Mar Gewargis III Younan is the new Ancient Church patriarch.

The formerly Chicago-based bishop was consecrated as the 110th patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East this week. Here is what you need to know.

Yasmeen Altaji | June 10, 2023

Elected in August last year, Mar Gewargis III Younan was consecrated as patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East on Friday at the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in Baghdad, where the church is headquartered. 

• Prior to filling the patriarchal seat, Gewargis Younan was a bishop at the St. Odisho church in Chicago. He was present at reunification negotiations between the Ancient Church of the East and the Assyrian Church of the East held in Chicago in 2022.

• Gewargis III arrived in Baghdad on May 22, according to a Facebook post from the church. The church could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

• Earlier this year, the Ancient Church’s announcement that it would elect a new patriarch marked the end of discussions for potential reunification with the Assyrian Church. The church split in 1964 following a number of changes, including adoption of the Gregorian calendar.

• In June, a church committee selected Mar Yacob III Daniel to succeed the late Mar Addai Gewargis. Daniel announced his resignation from the post in August, and Gewargis III was elected to fill the seat.

• Assyrian Church of the East patriarch Mar Awa Royel llI sent a letter of congratulations to the church on Gewargis’ consecration.

Gewargis III continues meetings with political and religious figures along his trip to Iraq. 

• Last month, Younan received Rayyan Al-Kildani, leader of the Babylon Movement sanctioned by the U.S. for alleged human rights abuses. According to a statement from the church posted to Facebook, the patriarch “affirmed that the church is a bridge to peace.” Kildani’s office posted a statement saying the two discussed religious “preservation” and “unification” in Iraq.

• In May, Younan received Yonadam Kanna, then-Secretary General of the Assyrian Democratic Movement.

• On Saturday, Younan received Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, patriarch of the Chaldean Church who, according to a statement from the Ancient Church, “offered his congratulations and blessings…wishing him success and success in this noble service” in a meeting attended by a number of clergymen.