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{{orthodoxyinamerica}}The '''Diocese of Los Angeles and the West''' of the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] was established as the Western Region of the [[archdiocese]] on [[May 5]], 1964 by the then Bishop [[Anthony (Bashir) of New York| Antony (Bashir)]]. Upon the granting of self-rule to the archdiocese by the [[Patriarchate of Antioch]] in 2001, the Western Region was raised to the dignity of a [[diocese]]. The [[diocese encompasses eight western ]] includes the states of the United States Arizona, California, Nevada, and three western provinces of CanadaUtah. His Grace Bishop [[Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) of Los Angeles|Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui)]], formerly the [[auxiliary bishop]] of the Western Region, was enthroned as bishop of the new diocese at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Los Angeles, California on Sunday, [[September 12]], 2004, by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York|Philip (Saliba)]], the ruling hierarch of the archdiocese.[[Image:LA_Chancery.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Chancery of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West]]
==Parishes and Monasteries==
The diocese includes thirty-three [[parish]]es and missions. While the parishes in the diocese are principally eastern rite, the diocese does have a western rite parish. Bp. Joseph also administers the [[Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest (Antiochian)|Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest]] as [[locum tenens]], a diocese that includes twenty four parishes and missions in the American states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
[[Image:LA_Chancery.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Chancery of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West]]
==History==
When he first stepped onto American soil in 1920, little did Archdeacon [[Anthony (Bashir) of New York|Anthony Bashir]] know that he would plant the seeds that would blossom into the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West. That year, the future Metropolitan-[[Archbishop]] of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America came to Portland, Oregon on a visit with [[Metropolitan]] Gerasimos (Messara). Shortly thereafter, [[Archdeacon]] Antony was secured to minister to the Antiochian flocks yearning for Jesus Christ throughout the United States and Canada as a priest and hierarch. As the latter, Metr. Antony, organized and established the collection of parishes in the west as the Western Region, the predecessor of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West.
It was in Portland, Oregon, that those seeds of Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in the western United States bore the initial fruit with the establishment of St. George Church in 1930. This was soon followed by the founding of the community of St. George in Los Angeles, California in 1933 (which later gave way to St. Nicholas in 1950). St. Nicholas in San Francisco, California was established in 1938, followed by the birth of St. George in Phoenix, Arizona in 1949, thus giving the region four [[parish]]es in three western states. The Orthodox Church in the west continued to grow as the faithful continued to establish parishes for the purpose of worship and fellowship.
On [[May 5]], 1964, Metr. Anthony declared St. Nicholas of Los Angeles to be the cathedral of the Western Region, the see of the metropolitan (and later, the diocesan [[bishop]]) for the western United States and Canada. Its pastor, Father Paul Romley, was named the first dean of the [[cathedral]] and [[exarch]] of the Western Region clergy.
Though the passing of Metr. Anthony in 1966 was indeed a sad one, a new hierarch took charge of the flock in the west and throughout all of North America. Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York|Philip (Saliba)]]) was consecrated in Lebanon on [[August 14]], 1966. His first visit to the flock was in the Western Region, as he returned to preside over the Archdiocese Convention hosted by St. Nicholas of San Francisco. Metr. Philip then visited the western churches before heading for New York to be enthroned on [[October 13]], 1966.
By 1975, with the joyful reunification of the Archdioceses of New York and Toledo, Ohio, the number of parishes grew to ten and now included the state of Nevada. Though small in stature at this point, the Orthodox Christian witness and ministry shone brightly out west.
The Western Region had been shepherded by Metr. Philip and the [[auxiliary bishop]]s of the Antiochian Archdiocese. In 1995, a permanent auxiliary bishop was assigned to the Los Angeles Chancery to lead the flock of western North America. Bishop Joseph Al-Zehlaoui makes constant visits to his parishes, carrying with him the love and grace of God as he strives to strengthen the diocese entrusted to him, making no distinction between those who have grown in the Orthodox faith and those who are new to it.
The growth of the Diocese is indeed characteristic of the Archdiocese. In 2001, Metr. Philip and the General Assembly of the Antiochian Archdiocese petitioned the Patriarchate of Antioch for Self-Rule status. When this degree was awarded, the seven geographic regions became dioceses, each being provided with a ruling diocesan bishop. Naturally, Bishop Joseph was chosen for the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West. His Grace was enthroned at St. Nicholas Cathedral on Sunday, September 12, 2004, at the hands of Metr. Philip, who served alongside Bp. [[Basil (Essey) of Wichita ]] and Bp. [[Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco|Benjamin (Peterson) of Berkeley]] of the [[OCA]]. More than 1,500 faithful gathered for that glorious day. The Diocese of Los Angeles and the West now includes well over 50 parishes and missions in eight western states and three Canadian provinces.
==Chancery chapel==
[[Image:Dormition_Chapel_LA_Chancery.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dormition Chapel at the Chancery of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West]]
There was no specific place for prayer within the Los Angeles Chancery over the first ten years of its existanceexistence. Through careful planning and design, a former basement bomb shelter was converted into a shelter for all. Through the efforts of Mr. Michael Malouf (designer and contractor) and the contributions of many, the Chapel of the Holy Dormition was completed in 2005.
On the morning of Tuesday, March 8, 2005, 34 clergy and laity from southern California gathered to witness the consecration. The chapel was dedicated to the Holy Theotokos and specifically the Feast of her Falling-Asleep.
Celebrating the [[consecration of a church|Service of Consecration]] with His Grace were Father Paul Doyle, the [[Protosyngellos ]] of the Antiochian Archdiocese and Dean Emeritus of the Diocese's Southern California Deanery; and Archdeacon George Shishim of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West. The icons of the Chapel were written painted by the hand of Khouriyee Bonnie Gillis of the Orthodox Mission in Langley, British Columbia. Two of these "windows to heaven" depicted the Dormition, with the vibrant colors bringing the faithful to that very scene nearly 2,000 years ago.
Bishop Joseph secured relics of Saint [[Innocent of Alaska]] and Saint [[Thekla the Protomartyr]] which were enshrined in the altar.
==External linksRuling hierarchs=====Western Region===*Metropolitan [[Antony (Bashir) of New York|Antony (Bashir)]] 1964 - 1966*Bishop [[Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) of Los Angeles|Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui)]] 1995- 2003===Diocese of Los Angeles and the West===*Bishop Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) 2003- Present ==Sources==*[http://www.antiochian.org Archdiocese Website/western Diocese of Los Angeles and the West] *[http://www.antiochianladiocese.org Diocese Website/diocese_history.html History of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian of Los Angeles and the West]
[[Category:Dioceses|Los Angeles]][[Category:Antiochian Dioceses|Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Orthodoxy in America]]
