16,951
edits
Changes
m
grammer and link
In the ecclesiastical chaos that developed in North America after the financial collapse of the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church following the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, the Syrian parishes that had been organized under Bishop [[Raphael of Brooklyn|Raphael]] splintered with some parishes continuing to look for leadership under the Russian mission while others looked for leadership under the Patriarch of Antioch. In 1921, during this chaotic period, Samuel (David) arrived in the United States, apparently as an [[archimandrite]].
By the mid 1930s, new episcopal leadership was needed for the Syrian Orthodox. Under the guidance of Metropolitan Theodosius of Tyre and Sidon (later Patriarch of Antioch Theodoius VI)three archimandrites were put forward as candidates for [[archbishop]] and leadership of the Syrian Orthodox in North America. These candidates were Samuel (David), Hagapios (Golam), and [[Antony (Bashir) of New York|Antony (Bashir)]]. In an election conducted on [[November 10]], 1935, Antony received the majority vote with Samuel second and to be Antony’s his first auxiliary.
On [[January 23]], 1936, the [[Holy Synod ]] of the Church of Antioch ratified the election and declared Arch. Antony their unanimous choice for Archbishop of New York. However, indecision on consecration of Arch. Samuel as an auxiliary by Metr. Theodosius reignited the divisions in the Syrian community and the two Syrian Orthodox groups proceeded to follow independent courses of action that resulted in formally establishing two Syrian [[jurisdiction]]s.
On [[April 19]], 1936, Arch. Antony (Bashir) was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] archbishop under the [[jurisdiction]] of the Patriarch of Antioch by Metr. Theodosius and Abp. [[Vitaly (Maximenko) of Jersey City|Vitaly of New Jersey]] ([[ROCOR]]) at the same time Samuel (David) was consecrated in St George’s Syrian Orthodox Church in Toledo by Abp. Adam and Bps. [[Leonty (Turkevich) of New York|Leonty]] and [[Arseny (Chagovtsov) of Winnipeg|Arseny]] of the Russian [[Metropolia]].
