Metr. Saba Opens 2026 Clergy Symposium at Antiochian Village

LIGONIER, PA — More than 200 bishops, priests, and deacons gathered this week at the Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center for the 23rd biennial Clergy Symposium of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, where speakers encouraged clergy to respond thoughtfully to a growing number of newcomers entering Orthodox parishes.

Opening the symposium on July 20, Metr. Saba welcomed participants and introduced this year's theme, "The Shepherd Knows His Sheep: Reading the Parish, Serving the Flock." The conference has focused on helping clergy understand the pastoral needs of converts and inquirers while strengthening parish life amid continued growth in Orthodox Christianity.

One of the symposium's principal speakers was Dr. Tarek Mitri, Lebanon's deputy prime minister and a longtime public servant with experience in the Lebanese government, the United Nations, and the Patriarchate of Antioch. Addressing the clergy, Mitri distinguished between community identity, which emphasizes differences among groups, and Orthodox identity, which is rooted in unity through the Gospel and faithful Christian love. He also emphasized that the Antiochian Church has historically embraced people from many cultures and national backgrounds, describing its identity as both local and universal.

The conference also featured breakout sessions examining the challenges and opportunities presented by the increasing number of catechumens. Participants discussed helping converts navigate misinformation encountered online, preparing them for the lifelong commitment of baptism, and fostering the sense of spiritual family many seekers desire.

The day's program concluded with a question-and-answer session led by Metr. Jacob of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and All Argentina. Drawing on his experience overseeing 12 parishes whose faithful have lived in Argentina for generations, he urged clergy to remain attentive to their own spiritual lives by maintaining regular confession and an unwavering personal prayer rule. Recalling the advice of a spiritual father on Mt. Athos, he encouraged priests to remain joyful, reminding them that repentance, prayer, and hope in Christ sustain Christians through every trial.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Saba reflected on the legacy of St. Raphael of Brooklyn.