Education
Saliba was educated at Balamand Orthodox Theological Seminary in Lebanon and at schools in Syria. He later studied in England at the Anglican Kelham Theological College and the University of London. After moving to the United States he studied at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and at, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in history.
On March 1, 1959, Saliba was ordained to the priesthood by Metropolitan Anthony (Bashir) and assigned to the pastorate at Saint George Church in Cleveland, Ohio.
He undertook graduate theological studies at Saint Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, New York, and was graduated from that institution with a Master of Divinity degree in 1965.
In March of 1966, the Antiochian Archdiocese, meeting in special convention, nominated Saliba to succeed the late Metropolitan Anthony (Bashir) as Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America.
In July of that year, the Patriarchal Vicar for the widowed See of New York, Metropolitan Ilyas (Kurban), Archbishop of Tripoli, elevated Saliba to an archimandrite.
Saliba was elected for the See of New York by the Holy Synod of the Antiochian Patriarchate on August 5, 1966, and on August 14 was consecrated to the episcopacy by Patriarch Theodosios VI (Abourjaily) at the Monastery of the Prophet Elias in Dhour Shouier, Lebanon.
Saliba was enthroned at the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Brooklyn, New York, on October 13, 1966.