Greek Orthodox successor

Syrian religious leader Yuhanna al-Dimashqi Beirut – Georges Chahine Syrian religious leader Yuhanna al-Dimashqi has been elected as successor to the late Ignatius IV [Patriarch Hazim] as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. He will serve under the name John X of Damascus. The Holy Synod elected the new church primate at 1300 hrs on Monday at the Balamand Monastery in the north of Lebanon. The body was comprised of 18 archbishops after the Archbishops of Baghdad. Arrangements for the inauguration mass and his reception of the pastoral staff will be announced soon. The call to elect the new holy see followed canonical law, which stipulates that an election must take place within ten days following the death of a patriarch.