Ancient Church names new patriarch

The Word | Nov. 12, 2022

The Ancient Church of the East named Mar Gewargis Younan its new patriarch Saturday.

The church announced the results of the election in a statement to Facebook Saturday. Younan, currently based in Chicago at the St. Odisho church, is the 110th Catholicos-Patriarch of the church.

The Ancient Church and Assyrian Church once made up a unified Church of the East until their split in 1964.

Earlier this year, the Ancient Church’s announcement of a process to elect a new patriarch marked the end of discussions with the Assyrian Church of the East for potential reunification.

In June, a committee of church officials elected Mar Yacob III Daniel to succeed the late Mar Addai Gewargis. Daniel announced his resignation from the post in August.