Youhanna Yaziji Elected New Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Levant and Antioch
Youhanna al-Yaziji was elected on Monday the new Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Levant and Antioch.
He will succeed late Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim, who passed away on December 5.
He will be known as Patriarch Youhanna X.
The election was made after a meeting of 20 archbishops at Our Lady of Balamand Monastery on Monday morning.
"We have a lot of work ahead concerning youth affairs and universities," the new patriarch said in a speech at the monastery later on Monday.
"We share the same fate with our Muslim brothers and we will work together," he vowed.
"Our confidence in our people is very deep and our path is the path of the cross," Yaziji added.
Answering a reporter's question, the patriarch stressed that "Christians will remain in Syria and it is their land."
"Our country suffered a lot of difficult periods, but we will stay" in Syria, he added.
"Throughout history, we have always been with all parties and all groups in Syria," Yaziji noted.
Born in Latakia, Syria in 1955, Yaziji earned his school and university education in Syria.
He earned a degree in theology in 1978 from the St. John of Damascus Faculty of Theology at the Balamand University and a doctorate in theology in 1983 from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.
He was appointed a deacon in 1979 and a priest in 1983 and in 1981 he took up teaching liturgy at St. John of Damascus Faculty of Theology at the Balamand University.
He assumed the position of dean of the faculty from 1988-1991 and 2001-2005.
He became the head of the Our Lady of Balamand Monastery from 2001 to 2005.
In 2008 he was elected as the Metropolitan of western and central Europe.
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My prayers are with him to guide the Orthodox, Christians and the people of region to the path of peace. Away from confrontation with ANYONE, to help us all live a more prosperous life with our children.
over 12 years
and i add to it, a special good heart feelings for the christian orthodox of LEBANON.
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Congrats !!!
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Congratulations and good luck...
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Worthy!!!
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Congrats to all my Orthodox brothers and sisters....may his appointment be a blessing on the Levant and her people.
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wow this is the first time you guys don't find each other, I'm surprised, may you always be this way :-)
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Mabrouk Abouna. Long live the orthodox.
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He is worthy!
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The whole region was once Orthodox until forced conversion under the sword occurred. People should look deep into their roots and do some reading.
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He looks cheerful on the pic, it's a promising sign.
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Takbeer!
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Alf mabrook to the Orthodox community of Syria. May his path be one of enlightenment, love and peace.
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Our thoughts and prayers are with His Holiness as he takes office to lead us, We need to ceaselessly remember the petition in the ectenia which says < In Peace let us pray to the Lord>.
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Mabrouk to the whole entire orthodox empire for the election of our new patriach.
It is a blessing to have a patriach like sayedna youhanna and big honour .
We pray with our new leader for our church to protected from every satin attack or evil doing our new shephered is very very qualified GOD BLESS YOU SAYEDNA YOUHANNA X For many years your holliness . Michael fajloun.
It is a blessing to have a shepherd like sayedna youhanna yazajjy as a patriach for our "Orthodox Empire" OR church.
GOD bless you saedna for many many many Years.
Mabrouk to all Antiochian Orthodox Christians. A special day indeed in the history of the oldest Christian church. God bless the new Patriarch and may the Holy Spirit lead him and his flock in the direction as taught by Jesus Christ & the apostles.