ENTHRONEMENT OF METROPOLITAN SABA AS ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK AND METROPOLITAN OF ALL NORTH AMERICA
On Saturday, May 13, 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba Esper was enthroned as the Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America at the Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn. Following his enthronement, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba was the guest of honor at a banquet at the New York Marriott Hotel in Brooklyn. Among the other guests of honor were His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios, Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and Dependencies, Her Excellency Ambassador Dr Abir T. Audi, Consul General of Lebanon in New York, Mrs Jeanne Mrad, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations in New York, Mr John Abi Habib, Honorary Consul of Lebanon in New Jersey, and representatives of the Mayor of New York City and New York State. H.E. Bishop Gregory Mansour of the Eparchy of St Maron of Brooklyn and H.E. Sheikh Sami Merhi, Chairman of the Druze Council of America, were also among the guests of honor, as well as many other notables from the Lebanese community in New York and the Northeastern United States.
New York City proclaimed the day as “Metropolitan Saba Day.” Metropolitan Saba was presented with gifts from the representatives of the Orthodox Church around the world.
Her excellency Ambassador Dr. Abir T. Audi, Consul General of Lebanon in New York, Brooklyn Borough President and New York City and State leaders offered their best wishes to His Eminence during the event.
Below is the speech delivered by H.E. Consul General Ambassador Dr Audi, addressed to His Eminence Metropolitan Saba:
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honor and a privilege for me to be here with you today as we celebrate the enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba as Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America. This momentous event comes at a very opportune time, as Men of God bear a great responsibility: that of upholding and preserving moral values, Christian values, which are also the universal values of mankind, and of all religions, in a world which is in dire need of such values, so that mankind, gone astray, can come back to God, the Father, and say with His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, “not my will but Thine, be done,” and thus fulfil God’s plan for this earth.
The Church perfectly teaches and embodies these universal values; as such, its representatives on earth are entrusted with the noble, divine mission of sowing the seeds of the fruits of the Holy Spirit upon mankind, so that the tree of life can grow and thrive, and Christ can rise in us, and imbue us with the Holy Spirit. For that is what the Holy Spirit embodies: Christ in us, for only thus are we transformed and born again in the image of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was, and remains, as the Holy Spirit, the Way to our Father in heaven.
The Church’s teachings, ideals and standards aim to implement Christ’s message in both word and deed through works of charity, through giving faith and hope, providing ethical education, preserving family values, and preaching love and compassion. Thus, we can maintain world peace and universal brotherhood, regardless of our religious, racial, cultural, or national differences. For we are all God’s children, and Christ’s disciples. The Church guides us back on the right path, the path to the divine life, by upholding these Christian values and virtues.
God bless the Antiochian Orthodox Church, God bless His Eminence Metropolitan Saba; on behalf of the People and the State of Lebanon, I extend to you my warmest and sincerest congratulations on your glorious day.”
GIBRAN KHALIL GIBRAN EXHIBIT AT THE UN
I am proud, honored, and delighted to inform our esteemed Lebanese community in New York and the Northeastern United States of the opening of this exhibition showcasing the paintings of our great Poet, Thinker, and Artist, the illustrious and eternal Gibran Khalil Gibran. Gibran represents the Real Lebanon, the Eternal Land of Cedars, beacon of Culture and Civilization, the Lebanon that will never die. The literary and artistic works of this giant of the spirit are also a major contribution to World Cultural Heritage. His influence thus goes much farther than our nation, to embrace the whole world, and that is what the talent of the Lebanese Diaspora represents: our frontiers are the world.
Ambassador Abir T. Audi, PhD,
Consul General of Lebanon in New York
RECEPTION HOSTED BY NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS AND MET MUSEUM PRESIDENT & CEO DANIEL WEISS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 77TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
On September 22, H.E. the Consul General of Lebanon in New York, Ambassador Dr Abir T. Audi, attended a reception hosted by NYC Mayor Eric Adams & Daniel Weiss, President & CEO of the Met museum, on the occasion of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Dr Audi thanked Mayor Adams on behalf of Lebanese New Yorkers who are proud of all that he is doing for that great “International City,” as Adams calls the Big Apple. Mayor Adams expressed once again to Ambassador Audi his fondness of the Land of Cedars.
Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra Concert
