Assyrian Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary
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Clergy at our Church
The Very Reverend John Khoury was born on December 20, 1938, in Beirut, Lebanon, the son of the late Very Reverend Issa and the late Basna Khoury. At the age of 14 and being impressed and inspired by the holy life of his parents, he joined St. Ephrem Theological School in Musul, Iraq in the year 1953. He graduated with distinction in the year 1958. Upon his return to Beriut, Lebanon, he enrolled in the national protestant secondary school and earned a diploma (literaure) with honors. In the same year he successfully recieved the Lebanese Baccalaureate. In the year 1963, the board of truestees selected him to be their future priest; and in 1964 with his Eminence Archbishop Mar Athanasius Y. Samuel's approval and blessings. he came to the United States and continued his studies at the general Theological Seminary in New York City.
On September 25, 1966, he was married to Linda Eknoian. On December 4, 1966 he was ordained a priest by his Eminencse Mar Athanasius Y. Samuel. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey from 1699 - 1674 during which time he was a member fo the honoarary sociey (Phi Zeta Kappa - May 1970) and (Phi Omega Epsilon - May 1974). He earned a B.A. (Cum Laude with distinction). He continued to further his educatoin and earned an M.A. (English and Comparative Literature) in the year 1979 from Fairleigh Dickinson University. On December 4, 1983, His Eminence Archbishop A.Y. Samuel Honored him by elevating him to the rank of Chor-Episcopos (Very Reverened)
The Very Reverend John and Linda Khoury are the proud parents of three children, Mary, Kathy, and Thomas.
The Very Reverend John Khoury traces his priestly backgrounds back five full centures. He is very grateful and proud to wear honotably the mantle of prieshood he received from his father and forefathers.
The Very Reverend John Khoury Continues to faithfully serve the church of God. He looks forward with humility to reap the benefits of his holy calling and share them with his devout and blessed parishioners.
Born in Kamishly, Syria on May 3, 1965, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Issa Karim, His Eminence Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim lost his father at an early age and was raised with the rest of his family by his late and loving mother Khanema. He entered St. Ephrem's Theological Seminary in Atchaneh, Lebanon in 1977, following his primary schooling in Kamishly. Upon completion of his seminary studies in 1982, His Eminence served the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, Syria for the next two years. From 1984 to 1988, Archbishop Cyril pursued higher studies at the Coptic Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt, receiving a bachelor of divinity degree upon graduation.
In 1985, Metropolitan Karim made his religious profession as a monk of the Church and was ordained to the diaconate in Egypt. Later the same year, he was elevated to the sacred priesthood in Kamishly. From 1988 to 1989, Mor Cyril served as both the secretary of His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and as a teacher at St. Ephrem's Theological Seminary in Damascus, Syria. In 1989, His Eminence entered St. Patrick's College in Maynooth, Ireland from where he was to receive a licentiate of sacred theology degree in 1991 and his doctor of divinity degree in 1994, following the defense of his doctoral thesis on the symbolism of the Cross in early Syriac Christianity.
On Sunday, January 28, 1996, His Eminence was consecrated as Metropolitan and Patriarchal Vicar of the Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church for the Eastern United States by His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I at St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church in Kamishly.
Archbishop Karim arrived in the United States on March 2, 1996, and was officially installed as Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar of the Archdiocese for the Eastern United States at St. Mark's Syrian Orthodox Cathedral in Teaneck, New Jersey on March 3, 1996. On December 8, 1996, His Eminence presided over the consecration of the new Archdiocesan Cathedral in Teaneck.