Draft:Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of São Paulo and All Brazil

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of São Paulo and All Brazil, is the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch in the Brazil.

History

With the problems in the Middle East at the end of the 19th century, stemming from the conflicts caused by the Ottoman Empire in the 1890s, there was a mass immigration of Arabs to South America, particularly to Brazil. They brought their cultural and spiritual heritage, thus forming the movement of the so-called Antiochian Orthodox in the Diaspora. The first Divine Liturgy on Brazilian soil took place in 1897, conducted by Father Mussa Abi Haidar in a hall on Rua 25 de Março, in the city of São Paulo. Subsequently, the Holy Synod of the Antiochian Orthodox Catholic Church, under the presidency of Patriarch Gregory Haddad, decided in 1922 to consecrate Bishop Michael Chehade for Brazil, who served until his death on July 7, 1931.

In 1904, the first church was built in São Paulo during the time of Archimandrite Silvestros As-Seghir. The Annunciation to Our Lady Parishwas located at 115 Cavaleiro Basílio Jafet Street, then known as Itobi Street, in the region of Rua 25 de Março. The construction was funded by Michel Assad, and the inaugural Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Canon Nicola Sáfadi. Later, the bell of this church, considered a relic, was transferred to the Cathedral, where it remains on display to this day.

Structure

The archdiocese covers the entire national territory, being led by a Metropolitan Archbishop who resides in São Paulo, assisted by an Auxiliary Bishop.

Parishes

The archdiocese has approximately twelve parishes in operation, as well as chapels and specific missions, concentrated in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná and Goiás, being assisted by a parish priest or with religious services conducted directly by priests from the Cathedral.

• Annunciation Parish to Our Lady;
• Saint George Parish of Santos;
• Saint George Parish of Curitiba;
• Saint Nicholas Parish of Goiânia;
• Saint John the Baptist Parish of Ipameri;
• Saint George Parish of Brasília;
• Saint George Parish of Anápolis;
• Saint George Parish of São José do Rio Preto;
• Our Lady Parish of Lins;
• Saint George Parish of Belo Horizonte;
• Saint George Parish of Bariri;
• Prophet Elijah Parish of Guaxupé;
• Annunciation Parish to Our Lady of Ituverava.

Metropolitan archbishop

• Samih Youssef Mansour, Archbishop of São Paulo and All Brazil and Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of São Paulo and All Brazil.

See also

• Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch
• Antiochian Greek Christians
• Arab Brazilians

External links

• Official website