Joseph Al-Zehlaoui
Joseph Al-Zehlaoui | |
|---|---|
| Church | Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch |
| Archdiocese | Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America |
| Elected | July 3, 2014 |
| Retired | September 17, 2022 |
| Predecessor | Philip |
| Successor | Saba |
| Other post(s) | Bishop of Qatana (1991–2004) Bishop of Los Angeles (2004–2014) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1976 (deacon) 1980 (priest) |
| Consecration | June 30, 1991 |
| Laicized | March 14, 2024 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 2, 1950 Damascus, Syria |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodox |
| Alma mater | Lebanese University Salonika University |
Joseph Al-Zehlaoui (born on November 2, 1950) is a defrocked former bishop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and was the Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America from July 3, 2014, until his retirement on September 17, 2022, and subsequent defrocking.
In October 2023, Al-Zehlaoui sued the archdiocese for millions of dollars due to alleged promises by Archdiocesan Officials which were not allegedly fulfilled. On March 14, 2024, in response to the lawsuit and for refusal to vacate the Los Angeles chancery belonging to the archdiocese, he was defrocked by the Holy Synod of Antioch.