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[[Image:Anthony Bashir.jpg|right|frame|Metr. Anthony Antony (Bashir) of New York]]His Eminence the Most Reverend '''Anthony (Bashir), Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America''', was the ruling [[bishop]] of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|North American archdiocese]] of the [[Church of Antioch]] from 1936 to 1966. (His first name is also sometimes spelled '''''Antony'''''.) He successfully led the splintered members associated with the Church of Antioch into an efficient, tightly-knit, and financially sound organization. He recognized early the need to introduce English in the American milieu and accept [[convert]]s into the Church including [[ordination|ordaining]] many to the [[priest]]hood.
==Life==
On [[April 19]], 1934, Metr. [[Victor (Abo-Assaley) of New York]] died. He had been appointed head of the North American archdiocese of the Church of Antioch on [[September 11]], 1924, by the Patriarch of Antioch. Thus, Archimandrite Anthony Antony was to administer those parishes that had been loyal to Victor until a successor would be named. After 1934, he provided much needed leadership to the dis-associated Syrian communities. His actions were recognized when he was [[Consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] [[archbishop]] in the [[jurisdiction]] of the Patriarch of Antioch. He was consecrated at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York, by [[Metropolitan]] [[Theodosius (Aborjaily) of Tyre and Sidon|Theodosius of Tyre and Sidon]] and the [[ROCOR]] Archbishop [[Vitaly (Maximenko) of Jersey City]] on [[April 19]], 1936. In the ensuing years Abp. Anthony Antony brought organization and unity to the Antiochian community and pursued reconciliation of the division in the Syrian community created when [[Samuel (David) of Toledo|Samuel (David)]] was also consecrated as the Syrian Archbishop of Toledo, Ohio.
He recognized the need for Orthodox cooperation, being instrumental in the organization in 1942 of the [[Federated Orthodox Greek Catholic Primary Jurisdictions in America]] and its re-organization into the more effective [[Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas]] (SCOBA).
His letter to Patrarch Alexander III (Tahan) in 1958 resulted in the approval of a [[Western Rite]] throughout the patriarchate. Three years later, Metr. Antony ordained the former members of the [[Society of Clerks Secular of St. Basil]], which became the original basis of the [[Western Rite Vicariate]]. Metr. Antony appointed Fr. Alexander Turner the first Vicar General of the AWRV.
He died on [[February 15]], 1966, to be succeeded by Metr. [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] who has continued his tradition of energetic leadership.
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170714202422/http://www.antiochian.org/Bishops/antony_bashir.htm Metropolitan Antony (Bashir)] (Antiochian Archdiocese website)*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101127091619/http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/antioch/former/nasr_life_antony_bashir.htm The Life of the Thrice Blessed Metropoilitan Metropolitan Antony Bashir], by Fr. Constantine Nasr*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101127091646/http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/encyclicals/antioch/antony_bashir/antony_encycl.htm Encyclicals and Pastoral Letters]*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101127084703/http://orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/antioch/former.htm#antony_bashir_metr_america Listing] at the Orthodox Research Institute*Writings** Thoughts on Orthodox-Roman Relations: [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2006/12/thoughts-on-orthodox-roman-relations-i.html I]{{Dead link|date=February 2022}}, [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2006/12/thoughts-on-orthodox-roman-relations-ii.html II]{{Dead link|date=February 2022}}, [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2006/12/thoughts-on-orthodox-roman-relations.html III]{{Dead link|date=February 2022}}, [http://occidentalis.blogspot.com/2006/12/thoughts-on-orthodox-roman-relations-iv.html IV]{{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of New York]]