Assyrian Church followers celebrate election of new Patriarch

Kochi — Followers of the Assyrian Church of the East in India Saturday celebrated the election of Maran Mar Gewargis III as their new Patriarch. He was elected Friday by the Synod of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East in Arbel, Iraq, church officials said. The post had been vacant since the passing of the previous Patriarch, Maran Mar Dinkha IV, on March 26 this year. The 121st Patriarch of the Church of the East will be consecrated at St John’s Cathedral in Arbel on September 27, the church said in a release here, reported Niti Central. Head of the Church in India, Mar Aprem, will be chief priest at the consecration ceremony, it said. Holy masses and

prayers will be held simultaneously in all shrines of the Church across India on the occasion, the release said. The Assyrian Church of the East in India is known as the Chaldean Syrian Church and it is based in Thrissur, Kerala.