On February 9, 2025, a Divine Liturgy was held at the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady in Balamand, led by Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. The service was attended by Metropolitan Saba (Esber) of New York and All North America, as well as numerous hierarchs of the Antiochian Church. During the liturgy, by the Patriarch's blessing, Deacon Pavel from the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America was ordained as a priest. According to the press service of the Antiochian Patriarchate, Father Pavel will undertake an important mission: the establishment of a new monastery within the Archdiocese.

In his address, Patriarch John X urged the newly ordained priest to humility, following the example of Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross. The Patriarch prayed for God's help in the beginning of Father Pavel's monastic life in America.

The Patriarch also emphasized the significance of this ordination, which took place at the request of Metropolitan Saba and due to his efforts. He highlighted the importance of preserving the spiritual traditions of the Antiochian Church: "We seek to strengthen our stronghold of faith, witnessing Christ throughout the world." At the end of the liturgy, Metropolitan Saba expressed gratitude to the Patriarch for his care and spoke about the life of the Archdiocese in North America. He noted that Deacon Pavel's ordination in Balamand is a testament to the unity and fidelity of the Antiochian Church.

The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America was founded from the Arab Orthodox parishes that appeared in the United States and Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it conducts active missionary and educational activities and places special emphasis on the development of monastic life. In 2003, the Antiochian Church in North America gained autonomy. Currently, the Archdiocese includes over 230 parishes and missions and plays an active role in the Orthodox community across the continent.