A Message from the Metropolitan: Western Rite Churches Will Not be Byzantized

To all to whom these presents may come: Greetings in the Name of Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, in accordance with the venerable tradition of the Church respects and encourages the integrity of the Western celebration of and witness to the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Faith as approved for usage within the Western Rite Vicariate of this Archdiocese. Under no circumstances, now or in the future, will the Byzantine expression of this same Faith be forcibly imposed on the clergy or faithful of the Vicariate for use within their local communities.

Metropolitan PHILIP, Primate
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Given at our Archdiocesan Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey, on this twenty-seventh day of November, 1979.