The official announcement about the newly elected Patriarch Mar Ignatius Aphrem II

Patriarch Elect Ignatius Aphrem II Karim

The official announcement about the newly elected Patriarch Mar Ignatius Aphrem II by the Holy Synod of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch.





Declaration Issued Following the Election of His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II

Declaration Issued Following the Election of His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church

On Monday 31 March 2014, the Holy Synod of the Syrian Orthodox Church convened in St. Jacob Baradeus Monastery in Atchaneh – Lebanon presided by His Beatitude Mor Baselius Thomas I Catholicose of India and His Eminence Mor Severius Hawa Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra and Patriarchal Locum Tenens with the presence of all the members of the Holy Synod of Antioch to elect a new patriarch upon the passing away of the Thrice blessed Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.

After all preparations and procedures to elect the new patriarch in conformity with the constitution of the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Catholicose and the Bishops voted each in turn. The majority of the votes were to His Eminence Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, Archbishop of Eastern United States of America who received the name Mor Ignatius Aphrem II. The new patriarch blessed the members of the Synod and clergy along with the entire the world.

He prayed the almighty to preserve the church and the faithful. He prayed for the Middle East region to have peace especially in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and the rest of the world. He stated that he will work for the sake of the church and strengthen the faith cooperating with the Holy Synod, heads of sister churches, ecumenical movement, Christian unity and the victory of good over evil.
He concluded with granting the apostolic benediction to all.

Severius Hawa Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra Patriarchal Locum Tenens
Theophilus George Saliba Archbishop of Mount Lebanon General Secretary of the Holy Synod

Source: Syrian Srthodox Church

Results of the Patriarchal Election of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
The majority of the votes were to His Eminence Mar Cyril Aphrem Karim.
The votes received are as follows:

1. Mar Cyril Aphrem Karim, Patriarchal-Vicariate of Eastern USA- 23 votes
2. Mar Clemis Eugene Kaplan, Patriarchal-Vicariate of Western USA - 13 votes
3. Mar Yostinos Boulos Safar (Mar Justinos Paulos Yousef Safar), Patriarchal-Vicariate of Zahle and Bekaa, Lebanon.-4 votes
4. Mar Severios Malke Mourad, Patriarchal-Vicariate of Jerusalem and Jordan - 1 votes

• Total=41 votes

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