Eastern Diocese Congratulates Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II

Clergy of the Eastern Diocese were among the guests welcoming His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II Karim, the newly elected patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, to St. Mark's Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in Teaneck, N.J., on Saturday, April 5. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate; Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocese's Ecumenical Director; and the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, director of the Diocese's Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, were among those gathered to welcome Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II to the cathedral where he has served for nearly two decades.

On March 31, the former Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, Metropolitan and Patriarchal Vicar at the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church for the Eastern United States, became the 123rd Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. He will serve in Damascus, Syria, where the Holy See of the Syrian Orthodox Church is based.

At St. Mark's Cathedral, a prayer of thanksgiving was said by Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem. He went on to speak about the plight of Christians in Syria, and called on people to "pray for our beloved Syria to have peace again."

The Syriac patriarch also stressed the importance of Christian unity, and said he looks forward to working with other church leaders in the region. "This divine calling does not come without divine help," he added.

Archbishop Barsamian delivered remarks congratulating Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem on behalf of the Armenian Church of America. He also conveyed the well wishes of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

"You exemplify the best qualities of the Christian heritage of the East; and you have given these virtues exemplary life and vitality here in the West," Archbishop Barsamian said. "I know that your experience here in America, and your leadership on the ecumenical stage, have given you the knowledge and ability to govern wisely in a church that now straddles the East and the West, the ancient and the modern."

A native of Syria, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem studied in Lebanon, Egypt, and Ireland. During his tenure in the United States, he helped establish new parishes, launched a youth organization, and was an active member in the ecumenical arena.

Throughout his ministry in the U.S., he has been a close friend of the Eastern Diocese, frequently joining Diocesan clergy in ecumenical meetings, in efforts to advocate on behalf of Christians in the Middle East, and in other initiatives.

He has served on the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches, the World Council of Churches, and the National Council of Churches in the USA. He was also among the founding members of the ecumenical organization Christian Churches Together, and has co-chaired the Oriental Orthodox-Roman Catholic Consultation.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem succeeds His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I, who entered his eternal rest on March 21.

Among other clergy present at Saturday's welcoming service were Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Orthodox Church, Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Church, as well as representatives of the Antiochian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox churches.

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Photos attached.

Photo 1: Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (left) and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian with His Holiness Ignatius Aphrem II Karim.

Photo 2: The new patriarch in a procession at St. Mark's Syriac Orthodox Cathedral.

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