Greek Orthodox Patriarch Youhanna Yazigi: Christians in Syria will remain in their land

Newly elected Greek Orthodox Patriarch Youhanna Yazigi held a press conference at the Our Lady of Balamand Monastery whereby he said that "there is much work to be done and we must all collaborate with one another."   

Patriarch Yazigi added that Christians in Syria will remain in their land and it is their country as much as it is anybody else's.                     

Our confidence in our people is very deep and our path is the path of the cross," Patriarch Yazigi added.                

Patriarch Yazigi concluded by saying that "we share the same fate with our Muslim brothers and we must all work together for peace."   
       
The Patriarch was appointed following elections that were held earlier today at the Balamand Monastery.  

In it worth noting that Patriarch Yazigi will accept congratulations on the 18th and 19th of December between 10 AM and 12 noon and between 4 PM and 7 PM at the Our Lady of Balamand Monastery.


The Holy Synod in the Antiochian Orthodox Church held on Monday a session at the Balamand Monastery where it elected Bishop Youhanna Yazigi a successor to late Patriarch Hazim as primate of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and the all the East.                             


Patriarch Youhanna X said following his election: “We must work together to make the image of the church suitable to that of Christ.”                       

He got 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. In 1981 started teaching liturgy at St. John of Damascus Faculty of Theology at the Balamand University, and was appointed 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 the Metropolitan of western and central Europe.