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On Friday, the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East elected Metropolitan Saba Esper of Bosra as patriarchal locum tenens, after the death of Patriarch Ignatius Hazim. The election came during a Synod meeting at Balamand Monastery, some 85 kilometres (53 miles) north of Beirut. Ignatius, who was born in the Syrian town of Mhardeh in Hama Governorate, died Wednesday at a Beirut hospital, a day after suffering a stroke. He was 92. He served as the First Hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East for 33 years. A Pannikhida for Ignatius will be Sunday at 12.00 at St Nicolas Church in Achrafieh. His body will be flown to his native village for burial. Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that Sunday would be an official day of mourning for the patriarch’s death. Lebanese leaders described Ignatius’ death as a loss for Lebanon and the region; they praised his role as a religious leader who believed in the principle of coexistence.
7 December 2012
The Daily Star: Lebanon News
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