Bishop Antoun (Khouri)

Bishop Antoun (Khouri) (1931-2017)

Antoun may be spelt Anthony, Antonios, Antonius, Antoniy, Antony.

Khouri may be spelt Khoury.

Early life of Antoun Khouri

On 17 January, 1931, Antoun Yssa Khouri was born in Damascus, Syria, the fourth of 6 children born to Wedad Elias Abraxia and Yssa Khouri.

Antoun was raised as an Orthodox Christian, in an Orthodox Christian family, and he grew up in the bosom of the Church of Antioch.

Higher education

After completing his elementary education at the Orthodox School in Meedan (Al Midan), Syria, Antoun entered the Minor Seminary at Balamand Monastery, in the County of Tripoli, Lebanon, at the age of 14, where he met his life-long friend, the future Metropolitan Philip (Saliba). At the Balamand Seminary, he completed his junior and senior high school studies.

Blamand Monastery

Afterwards, he continued his studies, and he received his diploma in theology from the Balamand Theological Academy of Saint John of Damascus.

Diaconal ordination, 1951

On 28 October, 1951, Monk Antoun (Khoury) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan), the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Damascus.

Mariamite Dormition Cathedral, Damascus

Diaconal service

Deacon Antoun Khouri was assigned to serve at the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Damascus, Syria.

While he was a deacon at the cathedral, he served as an instructor, and then as the dean of the Saint John of Damascus School.

In Damascus, he undertook undergraduate studies at the Al-Assiyeh Orthodox College from which he graduated in 1957.

Transfer to Brazil, 1957

In 1957, Hierodeacon Antoun was assigned to the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Brazil in São Paulo. There, he served at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Paul, and he served as secretary to Metropolitan Ignatius (Ferzli) (Forzley) of São Paulo.

Transfer to USA, 1959

In 1959, Hierodeacon Antoun was transferred to the USA, where he began graduate theological studies at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York.

He graduated from the seminary in 1962 with the M.Div. (Master of Divinity) degree.

Presbyteral ordination, 1960

On 29 May, 1960, Hierodeacon Antoun (Khoury) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in the Church of Saint George in Boston, Massachusetts, by Metropolitan Antony (Bashir), the Archbishop of New York and all North America.

Pastoral service

Hieromonk Antoun (Khouri) was assigned to serve at the chancellory.

On 3 August, 1969, Hieromonk Antoun (Khoury) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite by Metropolitan Philip (Saliba).

As a priest, he served the following pastoral assignments : Saint George’s Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ; Saint George’s Church in Toronto, Ontario ; Saint George’s Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania ; Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition, from 1969 to 1977, he worked in and from the chancellory of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America in Englewood, New Jersey, as personal aide to Metropolitan Philip.

On 1 August, 1981, the General Assembly of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, consisting of clergy and lay delegates from parishes throughout the USA and Canada, nominated Archimandrite Antoun (Khouri) for the office of Vicar-Bishop to the metropolitan.

On 4 November, 1982, the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East elected him to that office at a session in Damascus, Syria, as the Titular Bishop of Selefkia.

Episcopal ordination, 1983

On 9 January, 1983, Archimandrite Antoun (Khouri) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York, by Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) of North America ; Archbishop Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo, the Vicar-Bishop of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America ; Archbishop Elias (Saliba), the superior of the Patriarchal Monastery of Saint George (Tel-Kalakh, Syria) ; Bishop Paul (Bandaly), the Patriarchal Vicar (later Metropolitan of Akkar, Lebanon) ; and Bishop Antonio (Chedraoui), the Patriarchal Exarch for the Diocese of Mexico and Central America.

Episcopal service

Bishop Antoun (Khouri) was given the title of Bishop of Seleucia (Selefkia).

For many years, Bishop Antoun (Khouri) continued his service in the archdiocesan chancellory, and he visited many parishes and attended various meetings in accordance with the direction of Metropolitan Philip (Saliba).

During the course of his pastoral rounds and responsibilities, Bishop Antoun visited Canadian parishes many times.

Bishop of Miami and the Diocese of the Southeast, 2003

On 9 October, 2003, by a decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Antioch, Bishop Antoun (Khouri) became a diocesan bishop. He was assigned to serve as Bishop of Miami and the Diocese of the Southeast.

Bishop Antoun maintained his office and residence at the achdiocesan chancellory in Englewood, New Jersey, although he kept a secondary residence in Florida. The Diocese of the Southeast had been newly-created, and he was beginning the work of developing the structure and administration. In due time, the diocesan chancellory was established about 48 km (30 mi) northwest of the City of Miami in Weston, Florida.

The following is a copy of an article published in the September, 2014, edition of “The Word” magazine of the Antiochian Archdiocese :

Bishop Antoun Reflects on His Life in the Archdiocese, Metropolitan Philip, and Metropolitan Joseph

This reflection from the September, 2014, edition of 'The Word' magazine begins with a brief
introductory explanation by the Editor, Bishop John Abdalah.

We were at the Antiochian Village in July, 2014, for the Clergy Symposium, sitting in front of the
portrait of Patriarch Alexander (Tahan), the Patriarch who ordained Bishop Antoun to the diaconate
in 1951. Bishop Antoun began to reminisce about the late Patriarch and his ordination. Metropolitan
Philip served this Patriarch as his Secretary and Deacon. Sayidna Philip found this portrait at St.
John of Damascus Parish during a pastoral visit. 'How important it is for us to remember those
godly men who went before us, forming our spiritual lives through their witness and teachings',
remarked our senior Bishop Antoun.

Sayidna Antoun has served the Archdiocese of North America for 60 years. He is part of the history
of our Church, witnessing its growth and changes as a priest and bishop, as a pastor and as an
administrator, as an immigrant and as an American. As we experience our transition from the
leadership of Sayidna Philip to that of Sayidna Joseph, we are blessed to hear Bishop Antoun's
reflections, visions and hopes.

I served as a teacher in the Orthodox School in Damascus, and later as the Principal of St. John of
Damascus School in Syria. I then moved to San Paolo, Brazil, and served the Church there as a
deacon before coming to the United States, where I studied at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Almost right
away I was reunited by phone with my longtime friend, Metropolitan Philip, who was then a priest in
Cleveland, Ohio. Because I missed my friend Fr. Philip, I went to visit him there. I had asked how
long a trip Cleveland would be from New York. He told me it would be a few hours : just tell the
Greyhound Bus [people] you want Cleveland and they will bring you here. The trip took overnight ! I
found my friend Philip waiting for me in the Church.

It was Metropolitan Anthony Bashir who invited me to serve in North America. With the permission of
my bishop in Brazil, Metropolitan Ignatius (Ferzly), I made North America my home. I studied at St.
Vladimir's Seminary, and soon Metropolitan Anthony ordained me in Boston during a Parish Life
Conference hosted by St. George Church on St. George Street. He asked me to serve temporarily at
St. George Church in Philadelphia, where I served seven years, and during which time we hosted two
Parish Life conferences.

In 1967 Metropolitan Philip appointed me to serve St. George in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. During
that time Metropolitan Philip suffered his first heart attack. He needed some help, so he asked me
to move from Toronto to help him in Brooklyn, New York. For two years we searched for a new
headquarters and we found a place, the present headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey. During these
eight years at the headquarters I managed the bookstore, cut the grass, cooked meals and carried
suitcases. I also taught our Antiochian students at St. Vladimir's. Among my students are Bishops
Basil, John and Thomas, as well as many of our clergy.

In 1975 I witnessed the reunification of the Toledo and New York Archdioceses. This was a great day
in the history of the Antiochian Church in America. In 1977, after the visit of Patriarch Elias IV,
I asked to go back to parish life and went to St. George, Allentown, where I served one year. Then
Fr. Gregory Abboud died, so I was appointed the Dean of the St. Nicholas Cathedral to replace him.
From that time Metropolitan Philip asked me to serve as an Auxiliary Bishop. After some struggle
within the Synod of Antioch, I was elected to serve as Auxiliary Bishop.

During my thirty years with Metropolitan Philip, he sent me over all of the Archdiocese, visiting
parishes and establishing missions. In 1987, after long discussions, Metropolitan Philip accepted
the Evangelical Orthodox Church into the Antiochian Archdiocese. Traveling to all of these
parishes and preparing them to serve within the traditions of the Antiochian Church was a highlight
of my ministry. I witnessed the establishment of the Antiochian Women in Atlanta, Georgia. These
women are the backbone of the Archdiocese. I was also there for the creation of the
Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Teen SOYO, and the rebirth of the Fellowship. Metropolitan Philip
and I worked so hard establishing, nurturing and supporting these organizations. We also worked hard
supporting the clergy and encouraging the parishes. In the 1970s we found a camp in Pennsylvania.
We fought hard to establish the Antiochian Village Camp, and then the Center, the Library and the
Chapel at the Antiochian Village.

Since my consecration as a bishop, I traveled throughout the Archdiocese. All of my work brought me
happiness. The love of my life is the Archdiocese, her people, and especially the clergy. With my
partner, Metropolitan Philip, we established the Antiochian House of Studies. Here at the symposium
we see around us the many deacons and priests and bishops prepared to work with us through the
programs of the House of Studies.

My life as Deacon, Priest and Bishop of this Archdiocese was wonderful. Now at an age of
reflection, I hope that this Archdiocese, under the leadership of our new Metropolitan Joseph, will
remain blessed. He has a big job for the future of Antioch in this land. He has my support and my
prayers.

I wish to express my gratitude to my life-long friend, the late Metropolitan Philip. I also thank
the Archdiocese Board of Trustees, The Antiochian Women, The Order of St. Ignatius, and the youth,
asking God to continue to bless them and keep them united in faith. I pray that we continue in
unity in the Archdiocese under the leadership of the new Metropolitan. I love and admire this man.

Repose, 2017

Bishop Antoun fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, 2 October, 2017. His repose was announced in a statement issued by Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui), who was attending sessions of the Holy Synod of Antioch in Shwayya, Lebanon.

On Tuesday, 10 October, at 7:00 p.m., the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch was served at the [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami Miami] Cathedral of Saint George, and a Mercy Meal was offered in the cathedral hall after the service.

On Wednesday, 11 October, at 9:00 a.m., the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served at the Miami Cathedral of Saint George. This was immediately followed by the Funeral Service (Order for a Layman). A Mercy Meal was offered in the cathedral hall after the services. Then the coffin was transported by air to Pennsylvania.

On Thursday, 12 October, at 10:00 a.m. Bishop Antoun's body was interred at the Antiochian Village near Bolivar, Pennsylvania, which was preceded by the Burial Service. A Mercy Meal was offered afterwards at the Antiochian Village.

Grave of Bishop Antoun (Khouri) at Antiochian Village

— Bishop of Seleucia (Selefkia) 1983-2003. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : Bishop Efrem (Maalouli).

— Bishop of Miami and the Diocese of the Southeast 2003-2017. Preceded by : See created. Succeeded by : Bishop Nicholas (Ozone).

Sayidna Antoun (Khouri)

Reflections

Bishop Antoun’s name-day was 17 January (Saint Anthony the Great).

Archieratical Address of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph Delivered at the Funeral of His Grace
Bishop Antoun

Wednesday, 11 October, 2017

Beloved Brother Hierarchs, Reverend Clergy, and Christ-loving Faithful :

I embrace all of you with paternal love, as we come together this evening to pray for our beloved
Bishop ANTOUN and for his eternal rest.

I return to you from the meetings of the Holy Synod of Antioch, and I bear with me the fervent prayers
and heartfelt condolences of our Father-in-Christ, His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X, as well as my brothers,
the venerable Metropolitans of our Holy Patriarchate. We belong to one Antiochian family, and I can relay
to you that the loss of our beloved Bishop ANTOUN is profoundly felt by all.

I stand before you this evening with great reverence and immeasurable affection for my dear brother and
concelebrant, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the years I was blessed to call him a friend and
a mentor.

I stand before you this evening beholding our Bishop ANTOUN, and I reflect on the image he now presents
to us of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ :

+ He is vested as a high priest, as one whose hands offered the Bloodless Sacrifice, and as one who
fervently and tearfully offered prayers and supplications for his people ;

+ He is crowned as a king, not as one who lorded authority over others, but as one who always led as
though he were the servant of all ;

+ He holds the Book of the Gospels as a prophet, as one who expounded with authority the Word of God ;

+ And he bears the staff of a shepherd, as one who was always there to guide his precious sheep and
guard them with his own life.

While His Grace was a wonderful example of all of these Christ-like images, I will most remember
Bishop ANTOUN as a shepherd. We read in the Gospel of John that the Good Shepherd loves the sheep :
knowing each of them by name, protecting them from thieves and wolves, and providing them with
abundant life.

As a good shepherd, His Grace did indeed love all of us – the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful. He
offered himself wholeheartedly to us, and we could always count on his steadfastness, his courage,
and his selflessness.

He had a particular love for the clergy. He gave many wonderful years to the formation of seminarians
and raised up for this Archdiocese a generation of bishops and priests. He knew them by name and loved
them. They knew his voice and loved him in return – even if the sound of that distinctive voice was
sometimes stern and correcting, they knew his heart was that of a shepherd guiding and caring for them.

Who can forget the beautiful relationship he had with the children of our church ? They were drawn in
by this kind and gentle shepherd. His face would beam with joy as he led them in his favorite song –
'You Are My Sunshine'. I find it hard not to be moved to tears when I think of the banquet here in
Miami, and I can still hear the voices of the young people singing to their beloved Bishop ANTOUN.

In these recent days, I found myself rereading a beautiful interview Bishop ANTOUN gave to Bishop JOHN
for The Word magazine. In reading his account of his long life of service to this Archdiocese, I called
to mind the sacrificial love of the Good Shepherd described by Our Lord. His Grace reminisced about
his arrival in the United States in 1959 and described the development of his longtime friendship
with His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP into a dynamic partnership that transformed our Archdiocese.

With his sacrificial love, he worked side by side with His Eminence in building a new headquarters
for the Archdiocese, creating the Antiochian Women, Teen SOYO, and The Order of Saint Ignatius,
establishing the Antiochian Village, and welcoming the Evangelical Orthodox Church and countless
others home into the green pastures of Holy Orthodoxy.

In the interview, His Grace beautifully remarked : 'Since my consecration as a bishop, I traveled
throughout the Archdiocese. All of my work brought me happiness. The love of my life is this
Archdiocese, her people, and especially the clergy'. These are words of a true shepherd who gave
himself to his flock with love and joy.

One of my favorite verses of Scripture comes from Psalm 54 : 'Oh that I had wings of a dove ! I would
fly away and be at rest'. The context of the Psalm is the betrayal of a close friend, one with whom the
psalmist walked to the house of God and took sweet counsel, and can be said as a prayer during times of
tribulation.

This evening, Sayidna ANTOUN does indeed fly away to be at rest but not out of a desire to leave us
behind. To the contrary, he was our close friend and never betrayed us, nor did we betray him. He is
our faithful companion, and far from leaving us orphaned, he will take his rest, while never ceasing
to intercede for us at the throne of the Almighty God. And he also now flies away to be rejoined for
all eternity to his most faithful friend, His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP. We are assured that they
will be forever united in loving prayers for us, their grateful flock.

I stand before you this evening, and I grieve with you the passing of this great man of God ; but we
grieve not as ones who have no hope, but as faithful sheep knowing that our shepherds, Sayidna PHILIP
and Sayidna ANTOUN, will continue by their prayers to guide us to the abundant life that is found in
Christ’s Holy Church.

To the faithful of this Archdiocese, and particularly this diocese of Miami and the Southeast, I offer
my paternal love and my solemn oath to live up to the example of this godly shepherd in caring for you,
my beloved flock. And I have complete confidence in my brother, His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS, that he will
do likewise as he takes up the ministry of his venerable predecessor.

To the family and loved ones of our beloved Bishop ANTOUN, I offer – on behalf of my brother hierarchs
and the clergy and faithful of this God-protected Archdiocese – heartfelt condolences and all of my love
and prayers. We also offer our gratitude for your sharing of him with us, for his sacrifices on our
behalf could not have come without your sacrifices as well.

Your Grace Bishop ANTOUN, your legacy of love will never be forgotten. We shall never lose our gratitude
for all of your joy, your sincerity, your self-sacrifice, and of course your sunshine. As you fly away
to take your rest at the right hand of the Most High and to live in the Light that shall never be overtaken
by night, remember us—your grateful and loving children—in your holy prayers.

May your memory be eternal, my brother and concelebrant !

+Metropolitan JOSEPH

References

Wyrwoll, Nikolaus ed., “Orthodoxia 2014-2015" (Regensburg : Ostkirchliches Institut, 2015). ISBN 978-7245-1959-1 Satz und Druck: gaina GmbH Tübingen.

Official biography

Orthodoxwiki biography

Wikipedia biography

Russian wikipedia biography

Arabic wikipedia biography

Additional information :

Boosahda, Elizabeth, “Arab-American Faces and Voices : The Origins of an Immigrant Community” (Austin, TX : University of Texas Press, 2003). ISBN-10 : 029270920X. ISBN-13 : 978-0292709201.

Corey, George S, Gilquist, Peter E, Mackoul, Anne Glynn, Sqm, Jean. Schneirla, Paul, eds., "The First One Hundred Years : A Centennial Anthology Celebrating Antiochian Orthodoxy in North America" (Englewood, NJ : Antakya Press, 1995) BX738.A753F57.

Panchenko, Constantin A, “Arab Orthodox Christians under the Ottomans : 1516-1831”, translated by Samuel and Brittany Noble (Jordanville, NY : Holy Trinity Seminary Press, 2016). ISBN : 978-1-942699-08-8.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Antiochian Orthodox Patriarchate history of the Balamand Monastery

Address of Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) at the funeral of Bishop Antoun (Khouri)

“Memory Eternal, His Grace Bishop Antoun 1931-2017”

Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Diocese of Eastern America : “Memory Eternal ! Bishop Antoun”

Findagrave reference for Bishop Antoun (Khouri)

Arab America obituary

Archdiocesan Convention to celebrate Bishop Antoun’s Lifetime of Service

2017 Convention : "Bishop ANTOUN - A Lifetime of Service"

Archdiocese of São Paul and Brazil

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, São Paulo

Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny)

Patriarch Ignatius IV (Hazim)