The Very Rev. Dr Joseph Samaan, an alumnus of St Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS), is the new protosyngellos of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA).
Archpriest Joseph was appointed by His Eminence SABA, archbishop of New York and metropolitan of all North America, and will assume the new post at the Archdiocesan headquarters effective August 1, 2024.
“Our hope is that you will lift up in your daily prayers Fr Joseph and his family so that our Lord Jesus Christ may strengthen him to serve you with dedication and sincerity,” Metropolitan Saba wrote in the official announcement of the appointment.
Fr Joseph succeeds another SVOTS alumnus in AOCANA’s Office of the Protosyngellos, The Right Rev. Archimandrite Jeremy Davis (‘04). Fr Jeremy was recently named executive chair of SVOTS’ Board of Trustees, and will also begin a new assignment in the Antiochian Archdiocese as the archiepiscopal vicar for the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest.
Archpriest Joseph Samaan is a graduate of the School of Theology of St John of Damascus at the Balamand in Lebanon and obtained a Master’s degree from SVOTS in 1992. Fr Joseph then went on to complete his doctoral studies at the University of Athens in Greece. He was ordained to the holy diaconate in 1992 by His Eminence Metropolitan ELIAS (Youssef) of Aleppo, of thrice blessed memory. In the year 2000 His Grace Bishop ANTOUN (Khoury), of thrice blessed memory, ordained him to the holy priesthood. Fr Joseph also served for a time in the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta.
He has been married to Khouria Linda for thirty-two years, and they have three daughters.
May God grant Archpriest Joseph, Kh. Linda, and their family many years!
Information for this article was adapted from Antiochian.org.
