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{{Short description|Syrian-American Antiochian Orthodox metropolitan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
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| honorific_suffix =
| honorific_suffix =
| title =
| title =
| image = [[File:Joseph c.2010.jpg|thumb|Joseph Al-Zehlaoui c. 2010]]
| image = Joseph c.2010.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Joseph Al-Zehlaoui in 2019
| caption = Joseph Al-Zehlaoui circa 2010
| church = [[Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch]]
| church = [[Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch]]
| archdiocese = [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]
| archdiocese = [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]
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| successor = [[Saba Esber|Saba]]
| successor = [[Saba Esber|Saba]]
| opposed =
| opposed =
| other_post = Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West (2004–2014)
| other_post = Bishop of [[Qatana]] (1991–2004)<br>Bishop of [[Los Angeles]] (2004–2014)
<!---------- Orders ---------->
<!---------- Orders ---------->
| ordination = 1976 (deacon) <br /> 1980 (priest)
| ordination = 1976 (deacon) <br /> 1980 (priest)
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| alma_mater = [[Lebanese University]] <br /> [[Aristotle University of Thessaloniki|Salonika University]]
| alma_mater = [[Lebanese University]] <br /> [[Aristotle University of Thessaloniki|Salonika University]]
}}
}}
'''Joseph Al-Zehlaoui''' (born '''Yusuf Al-Zehlaoui''' on November 2, 1950) is a former bishop of the [[Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch]] and was the Metropolitan of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] from July 3, 2014, to his retirement on September 17, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-03 |title=His Eminence Joseph Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America |url=https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/%d8%b5%d8%a7%d8%ad%d8%a8%20%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%af%d8%a9%20%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%aa%20%d8%ac%d9%88%d8%b2%d9%8a%d9%81%20%d8%b2%d8%ad%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%88%d9%8a%20%d9%85%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%aa%20%d9%86%d9%8a%d9%88%d9%8a%d9%88%d8%b1%d9%83%20%d9%88%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1%20%d8%a3%d9%85%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%83%d8%a7%20%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b4%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9/633/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718172555/https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A8%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AA%20%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%81%20%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A%20%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AA%20%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%83%20%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%20%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/633/ |archive-date=2014-07-18 |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=[[Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-03 |title=juzif zahalawi mutranan lilarthudhuks ealaa 'abrashiat niwyurk wasayir 'amrika alshamalia |script-title=ar:جوزيف زحلاوي مطرانا للارثوذكس على أبرشية نيويورك وسائر أمريكا الشمالية |trans-title=Joseph Zahlawi, Archbishop of the Orthodox Archdiocese of New York and the rest of North America |url=http://www.annahar.com/article/147683-%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B3-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%83-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140711065053/http://www.annahar.com/article/147683-%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B3-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%83-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9 |archive-date=2014-07-11 |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=[[An-Nahar]] |language=ar |agency=National News Agency}}</ref>
'''Joseph Al-Zehlaoui''' (born on November 2, 1950) is a [[Defrocking|defrocked]] former bishop of the [[Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch]] and was the Metropolitan of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] from July 3, 2014, until his retirement on September 17, 2022, and subsequent defrocking.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-03 |title=His Eminence Joseph Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America |url=https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/%d8%b5%d8%a7%d8%ad%d8%a8%20%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%af%d8%a9%20%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%aa%20%d8%ac%d9%88%d8%b2%d9%8a%d9%81%20%d8%b2%d8%ad%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%88%d9%8a%20%d9%85%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%aa%20%d9%86%d9%8a%d9%88%d9%8a%d9%88%d8%b1%d9%83%20%d9%88%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1%20%d8%a3%d9%85%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%83%d8%a7%20%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b4%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9/633/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718172555/https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A8%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AA%20%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%81%20%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A%20%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AA%20%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%83%20%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%20%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9/633/ |archive-date=2014-07-18 |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=[[Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-03 |title=juzif zahalawi mutranan lilarthudhuks ealaa 'abrashiat niwyurk wasayir 'amrika alshamalia |script-title=ar:جوزيف زحلاوي مطرانا للارثوذكس على أبرشية نيويورك وسائر أمريكا الشمالية |trans-title=Joseph Zahlawi, Archbishop of the Orthodox Archdiocese of New York and the rest of North America |url=http://www.annahar.com/article/147683-%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B3-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%83-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140711065053/http://www.annahar.com/article/147683-%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%B2%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B3-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%83-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9 |archive-date=2014-07-11 |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=[[An-Nahar]] |language=ar |agency=National News Agency}}</ref>


In October 2023, Al-Zehlaoui sued the archdiocese for millions of dollars.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rohrlich |first=Justin |date=2023-11-08 |title=Archbishop Accused of Affair Sues Over His Stingy Severance |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/archbishop-joseph-al-zehlaoui-sues-over-stingy-severance-after-affair-accusation |access-date=2024-03-03 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref> On March 14, 2024, in response to the lawsuit and for refusal to vacate the Los Angeles chancery belonging to the archdiocese, he was defrocked by the Holy Synod of Antioch.<ref>https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/statement-of-the-holy-synod-of-antioch-14-march-2024/2669/</ref>
In October 2023, Al-Zehlaoui sued the archdiocese for millions of dollars.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rohrlich |first=Justin |date=2023-11-08 |title=Archbishop Accused of Affair Sues Over His Stingy Severance |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/archbishop-joseph-al-zehlaoui-sues-over-stingy-severance-after-affair-accusation |access-date=2024-03-03 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref> On March 14, 2024, in response to the lawsuit and for refusal to vacate the Los Angeles chancery belonging to the archdiocese, he was defrocked by the Holy Synod of Antioch.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.antiochpatriarchate.org/en/page/statement-of-the-holy-synod-of-antioch-14-march-2024/2669/|title=Statement of the Holy Synod of Antioch 14 March 2024 - Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East}}</ref>


==Early years==
==Early years==
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Starting September 12, 2004, he was appointed as the first bishop of the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, enthroned by Metropolitan Philip and the Local Holy Synod of the Archdiocese.
Starting September 12, 2004, he was appointed as the first bishop of the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, enthroned by Metropolitan Philip and the Local Holy Synod of the Archdiocese.


Following the death of Antiochian Orthodox Metropolitan Philip Saliba (1966–March 19, 2014), the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East convened on July 3, 2014, at the [[Balamand Monastery|Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery]] in Northern Lebanon and elected Joseph at its meeting as metropolitan of North America.
Following the death of Antiochian Orthodox Metropolitan [[Philip Saliba]] (1966–March 19, 2014), the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East convened on July 3, 2014, at the [[Balamand Monastery|Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery]] in Northern Lebanon and elected Al-Zehlaoui at its meeting as metropolitan of North America.


⚫
Al-Zehlaoui's former title was His Eminence, the Most Reverend Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America, Primate.
==Allegations of misconduct, retirement, and laicization==
On August 25, 2022, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America posted a statement on their website announcing that an independent legal team was investigating an accusation claiming Metropolitan Joseph had violated the canons of the church by having had a "long-time erotic affair" with a woman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Department of Communications |date=2022-08-25 |title=A Message from the Antiochian Archdiocese |url=https://antiochian.org/regulararticle/1317 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826183826/https://antiochian.org/regulararticle/1317 |archive-date=2022-08-26 |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=[[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Forced to Resign|url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/metropolitan-joseph-of-the-antiochian-orthodox-archdiocese-forced-to-resign/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |publisher=The National Herald |language=en}}</ref> On August 28, 2022, Patriarch John X of Antioch acknowledged the accusations and assured the church that appropriate actions would be taken quickly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=John X of Antioch |author-link=John X of Antioch |date=2022-08-22 |title=Statement From Patriarch John of Antioch |url=https://ocl.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Statement-from-Patriarch-John_Antioch.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901164706/https://ocl.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Statement-from-Patriarch-John_Antioch.pdf |archive-date=2022-09-01 |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=[[Orthodox Christian Laity]]}}</ref> Metropolitan Joseph issued a message to the American Archdiocese for the [[Liturgical_year#Eastern_Orthodox_Church|Ecclesiastical New Year]] but had made no public acknowledgement of the accusations as of September 1, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Al-Zehlaoui |first=Joseph |author-link=Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) |author-mask=4 |date=2022-09-01 |title=Metropolitan Joseph's Message for the Ecclesiastical New Year |url=https://antiochian.org/regulararticle/1324 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901164930/https://antiochian.org/regulararticle/1324 |archive-date=2022-09-01 |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=[[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] }}</ref> As a result of the controversy, on September 17, 2022, Archbishop Joseph announced his request to retire as Metropolitan,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-17 |title=Retirement of Metropolitan Joseph 2022‑09‑17 |url=https://stthomassiouxcity.org/2022/09/retirement-of-metropolitan-joseph-2022%e2%80%9109%e2%80%9117/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919042655/https://stthomassiouxcity.org/2022/09/retirement-of-metropolitan-joseph-2022%E2%80%9109%E2%80%9117/ |archive-date=2022-09-19 |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=[[St. Thomas Orthodox Church (Sioux City, Iowa)]]}}</ref> while continuing to deny the allegations. On October 16, 2023, Al-Zehlaoui filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese; while he had denied the affair allegations in other contexts, he did not address or dispute the allegations in the legal filing, and he alleges that the Archdiocese failed to provide him with promised retirement benefits including a salary and severance package.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rohrlich |first=Justin |date=2023-11-08 |title=Archbishop Accused of Affair Sues Over His Stingy Severance |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/archbishop-joseph-al-zehlaoui-sues-over-stingy-severance-after-affair-accusation |access-date=2024-03-03 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref>


==End of episcopacy and defrocking==
==Title==
⚫
Al-Zehlaoui's former title was His Eminence, the Most Reverend Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America, Primate.


In 2022, details began to emerge alleging Al-Zehlaoui of engaging in a long term affair with a married woman, with documents leaked on controversial Orthodox blog Orthodoxy in Dialogue. Following the publication of these allegations, Al-Zehlaoui resigned from the episcopacy on September 7, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kalmoukos |title=Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Forced to Resign |url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/metropolitan-joseph-of-the-antiochian-orthodox-archdiocese-forced-to-resign/ |website=The National Herald |access-date=29 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Department of Communications |date=2022-08-25 |title=A Message from the Antiochian Archdiocese |url=https://antiochian.org/regulararticle/1317 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826183826/https://antiochian.org/regulararticle/1317 |archive-date=2022-08-26 |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=[[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] }}</ref> However, in late 2023, Al-Zehlaoudi filed a summons against the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]], alleging that the leak and publication of incriminating emails was slanderous and that several verbal promises about retirement funding had been neglected and broken by the archdiocese.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Al-Zehlaodi |title=SUMMONS WITH NOTICE |date=2023-10-16 |url=https://trellis.law/doc/191511096/summons-with-notice}}</ref> Following the filing of this lawsuit, Al-Zehlaoui was properly defrocked, returning him to the laity (as opposed to being a retired bishop), due to "improper actions as clergyman (retired Metropolitan) with respect to church property and monetary matters, and initiating a legal proceeding against the Church in a civil court."<ref>{{cite web |title=Patriarchate of Antioch: Former Metropolitan of New York was defrocked by decision of the Holy Synod |url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/patriarchate-of-antioch-former-metropolitan-of-new-york-was-defrocked-by-decision-of-the-holy-synod/ |website=Orthodox Times |access-date=29 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>
Following his laicization on March 14, 2024, he no longer holds any clerical title.


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 18:53, 17 September 2024

Joseph Al-Zehlaoui
Joseph Al-Zehlaoui circa 2010
ChurchGreek Orthodox Church of Antioch
ArchdioceseAntiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
ElectedJuly 3, 2014
RetiredSeptember 17, 2022
PredecessorPhilip
SuccessorSaba
Other post(s)Bishop of Qatana (1991–2004)
Bishop of Los Angeles (2004–2014)
Orders
Ordination1976 (deacon)
1980 (priest)
ConsecrationJune 30, 1991
LaicizedMarch 14, 2024
Personal details
Born (1950-11-02) November 2, 1950 (age 74)
Damascus, Syria
DenominationEastern Orthodox
Alma materLebanese University
Salonika University

Joseph Al-Zehlaoui (born on November 2, 1950) is a defrocked former bishop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and was the Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America from July 3, 2014, until his retirement on September 17, 2022, and subsequent defrocking.[1][2]

In October 2023, Al-Zehlaoui sued the archdiocese for millions of dollars.[3] On March 14, 2024, in response to the lawsuit and for refusal to vacate the Los Angeles chancery belonging to the archdiocese, he was defrocked by the Holy Synod of Antioch.[4]

Early years

[edit]

Joseph G. Al-Zehlaoui or Joseph Zehlaoui (in Arabic جوزيف زحلاوي) was born on November 2, 1950, in Damascus, Syria to Georgi and Mathil (Baghdan) Al-Zehlaoui. After receiving his elementary education at the St. John of Damascus and Al-Assiyeh schools in Damascus, and his secondary education at Balamand Monastery in Koura, Northern Lebanon, he studied philosophy at Lebanese University in Beirut and theology, languages and music at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. He is fluent in Arabic, English, and Greek.

He was ordained to the diaconate while a student in Salonica, in December 1976. Subsequently, he was ordained to the priesthood by Patriarch Ignatius IV, at St. Mary Cathedral in Damascus in December, 1980. As a deacon, he served parishes in Thessaloniki. As a priest, he was dean of St. Mary Cathedral of Damascus, and overseer of the Holy Cross Church and other parishes in the suburbs of Damascus. In 1983, he pastored the Antiochian Orthodox followers living in London, England, and, in 1986, the Antiochian Orthodox community living in Cyprus.

He was elected to the episcopate on May 5, 1991, and consecrated on June 30, 1991, in the Holy Cathedral of the Patriarchate in Damascus with the title Bishop of Katana, Syria.

During his clerical ministry, he served as General Supervisor and Professor of Religious Education at the Al-Assiyeh Orthodox College and supervised the Patriarchal headquarters in Damascus. Besides being the Patriarchal Assistant during the past several years, Bishop Joseph served as the secretary to the Holy Synod of Antioch, Editor-in-Chief of the Patriarchal Bulletin and participated in several theological conferences in Greece, Texas, US, and Australia.

Service in the United States

[edit]
Al Zehlaoui and Mike Pompeo in July 2019

At the request of Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) of New York, Al-Zehlaoui was selected by the Holy Synod of Antioch on January 24, 1995, to be an auxiliary bishop for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

Starting September 12, 2004, he was appointed as the first bishop of the Holy Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, enthroned by Metropolitan Philip and the Local Holy Synod of the Archdiocese.

Following the death of Antiochian Orthodox Metropolitan Philip Saliba (1966–March 19, 2014), the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East convened on July 3, 2014, at the Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in Northern Lebanon and elected Al-Zehlaoui at its meeting as metropolitan of North America.

Al-Zehlaoui's former title was His Eminence, the Most Reverend Joseph, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America, Primate.

End of episcopacy and defrocking

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In 2022, details began to emerge alleging Al-Zehlaoui of engaging in a long term affair with a married woman, with documents leaked on controversial Orthodox blog Orthodoxy in Dialogue. Following the publication of these allegations, Al-Zehlaoui resigned from the episcopacy on September 7, 2022.[5][6] However, in late 2023, Al-Zehlaoudi filed a summons against the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, alleging that the leak and publication of incriminating emails was slanderous and that several verbal promises about retirement funding had been neglected and broken by the archdiocese.[7] Following the filing of this lawsuit, Al-Zehlaoui was properly defrocked, returning him to the laity (as opposed to being a retired bishop), due to "improper actions as clergyman (retired Metropolitan) with respect to church property and monetary matters, and initiating a legal proceeding against the Church in a civil court."[8][4]

References

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  1. ^ "His Eminence Joseph Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America". Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. 2014-07-03. Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  2. ^ "juzif zahalawi mutranan lilarthudhuks ealaa 'abrashiat niwyurk wasayir 'amrika alshamalia" جوزيف زحلاوي مطرانا للارثوذكس على أبرشية نيويورك وسائر أمريكا الشمالية [Joseph Zahlawi, Archbishop of the Orthodox Archdiocese of New York and the rest of North America]. An-Nahar (in Arabic). National News Agency. 2014-07-03. Archived from the original on 2014-07-11. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  3. ^ Rohrlich, Justin (2023-11-08). "Archbishop Accused of Affair Sues Over His Stingy Severance". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  4. ^ a b "Statement of the Holy Synod of Antioch 14 March 2024 - Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East".
  5. ^ Kalmoukos. "Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Forced to Resign". The National Herald. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  6. ^ Department of Communications (2022-08-25). "A Message from the Antiochian Archdiocese". Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  7. ^ Al-Zehlaodi (2023-10-16). "SUMMONS WITH NOTICE".
  8. ^ "Patriarchate of Antioch: Former Metropolitan of New York was defrocked by decision of the Holy Synod". Orthodox Times. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
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