Antiochian Archdiocese to Celebrate Sunday of All Saints of Antioch With Patriarchate of Antioch for First Time

His Eminence Metropolitan Saba is currently abroad, leading a sacred pilgrimage to Jordan and Lebanon that will conclude on July 3, 2025. Accompanying him are 29 current and recently graduated seminarians. Photo: www.antiochian.org

LEBANON — This Sunday, June 22, the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America will join the Patriarchate of Antioch in celebrating the Sunday of All Saints of Antioch for the first time. Instituted by the Holy Synod in 2023, the feast is observed annually on the second Sunday after Pentecost.

His Eminence Metropolitan Saba is currently leading a group on pilgrimage to Jordan and Lebanon, which provides the opportunity for the Antiochian faithful from the U.S. to celebrate the feast at the Patriarchate of Antioch.

In his weekly teaching series “Antiochian Distinctions,” Metropolitan Saba reflects on the Church of Antioch’s lasting contributions to Orthodox Christianity, its perseverance through trials, and the spiritual lessons it offers for the present day.

“Because it lived for centuries under non-Christian rule, Antioch avoided the temptation of using Orthodoxy for nationalistic purposes, resulting in a pure ecclesial theology,” Metropolitan Saba writes. “... Living under non-Christian rule since the seventh century exposed the Church to various persecutions. Yet, wherever possible, it engaged with its surroundings, rulers, and citizens of different sects, remaining a witness to its faith and spirituality while playing a significant role in the advancement of the societies in which it lived.”

Since the beginning of Christianity, he states, the Antiochian Church has been a multicultural church. The Church’s geographical reach was vast, which is why it still bears the title “Antioch and All the East.” Due to that, Metropolitan Saba believes it has never faced issues with language or culture. A resemblance is seen in the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America “from diversity in culture and language to nationally not limited by ethnicity.”

“How beneficial it is to learn from these experiences and draw inspiration from them as we face the many challenges confronting our Archdiocese today,” His Eminence concludes.

Previously, UOJ reported that Patriarch John X had welcomed Metropolitan Saba to Lebanon.

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