Timely Montreal visit from head of Antiochian Orthodox Church

Metropolitan Archbishop PHILIP Saliba to discuss the election of the new President in Lebanon and the interaction between the various religious groups

MONTREAL, June 2 /CNW Telbec/ - Montreal's St-George Antiochian Churchwill host a monumental event for the self-ruled Antiochian Orthodox Church ofall of North America. On Saturday, June 7th 2008, the Metropolitan ArchbishopPHILIP Saliba, who is the primate and highest ecumenical figure of this churchin North America, will join his parishioners in Montreal to celebrate hisleadership of the largest Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church worldwide forover forty years.

Born in 1931 in Lebanon, Metropolitan PHILIP was ordained to the holydiaconate in 1949 at the young age of 18 years old. Awarded scholarships tothe Kelham Theological School and the University of London in Great Britain,he also earned a Bachelor's degree and subsequently a Master of Divinity aswell as an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. In 1966 MetropolitanPHILIP was consecrated and enthroned. Over the years, Metropolitan PHILIP'sillustrious career and leadership has included activities in Middle Easternaffairs, a trust fund to provide scholarship to Arab refugees, many charitableand humanitarian deeds as well as several books which he has authored. In 2003in a historic move, under Metropolitan PHILIP's leadership the Archdiocese ofNorth America requested and was granted the status of self-ruling archdiocese.

St-George Antiochian Church will host a gala evening on Saturday, June7th at the Hyatt Hotel and a hierarchical liturgy the next day at their Churchlocated at 555 Jean Talon east on Sunday, June 8th.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Opportunity: His Eminence will meet the press on Saturday, June 7th at 11am at the Presidential Suite at the Hyatt Hotel. The press is requested to rsvp by contacting one of the press representatives indicated below.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<<
For one-on-one interviews and further information contact:

English Press: French & Arabic press:

Terry Diab Nicolas Sayegh
(514) 731-4111 (514) 969-8242
terry@terrydiab.com

>>

For further information: Father Antony Gabriel, (514) 276-8533,
info@saintgeorgemontreal.org; Event coordinator: Cynthia Courey, (514)
341-3905

SOURCE: