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Diocese of Los Angeles and the West (Antiochian)

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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.
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]]
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