Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas

LL Patriarch of Antioch and All The East & Universal Syriac Orthodox Church

Memorial Page

 

Lord have mercy upon us. O God absolve the high priest and stand him up on Your right side on the great day of resurrection!

With great sorrow, we announce the passing away of our Holy father, and faithful shepherd, His Holiness, Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. His Holiness passed away on Friday, March 21, 2014 while on a medical visit to Germany.

HH died from a heart attack in a hospital in the city of Kiel in Germany. He was 81 years old. HH was the 122nd patriarch of what is considered to be the oldest church in the world, with a following of some four million across the globe.

HH was born on April 21, in Nineveh, Iraq (today's Mosul) during the fateful year of 1933 when Iraqi forces massacred some three thousand Assyrians in what is known as the Simmele massacre. His parents gave him the name of Sanharib after the ancient Assyrian king. On November 17, 1957, he was ordained as a priest. On On November 17, 1963, he was ordained as Metropolitan Bishop of Mosul.

Bishop Sanharib adopted the name Ignatius when, on September 14, 1980, he was chosen to lead the church after the death of Patriarch Yaqub III. He was ordained at St. George's Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus in a service led by our then Catholicose Baselios Paulose II.

HH was known for his involvement in ecumenical dialogue. He was also a prolific author. He was an observer at Second Vatican Council before becoming Metropolitan Bishop of Mosul.

Via bulls HB Thomas I, Catholicose of India, HE Archbishop Mor Yeldho Titus and Mor Theophilus George Saliba, General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church have requested all faithful to kindly pray for the repose of His Holiness, and for the Church, in these hard times. While we mourn His Holiness' passing away, they requested that our churches be open on Saturday, March 22 evening for an hour or two, for prayers, mourning and accepting condolences. In some churches, a special prayer service 'Teshmishto d Kohne' will be held for for His Holiness on Sunday, March 23 during the Divine Qurbono.

The mortal remains of the LL Holy Father was taken to Lebanon on Monday.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 - Public Viewing and Paying Respects - at St. Ephrem the Syrian Hall in Achrafieh - Sioufi, Beirut, Lebanon - completed.
For the first time in the history of the church, a Malaylam Qurbano was held as part of the funeral services for the LL Patriarch, presided over by HB Baselios Thomas I.

Thursday, March 27, 2014 -11:00 am - Funeral Service at St. Ephrem Church in Achrafieh - Sioufi, Beirut, Lebanon was led by His Beatitude Baselios Thomas I, Catholicose of India. Holy Coptic Orthodox Church Pope His Holiness Theodoros II co-officiating the funeral service by reading the Holy Book of Gospel. Prayers were offered in different languages by the sister church Patriarchs and Bishops in Syriac, Malayalam, Arabic, English etc.

Coptic Patriarch Theodoros II , Armenian Catholicos Aram I, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Youhanna Yaziji, Cardinal Kurt Koch representing Pope Francis of Catholic Church, Holy Episcopal Synod Secretary of Malankara Mor Gregorios Joseph and Sister Church's representatives delivered the condolence messages.

The second part of the funeral service concluded with offering the Incense Prayer by Catholicos Aboon Mor Bsalious Thomas I . The third and final part of the service will be done on Friday, March 28 in Damascus.

Holy Mortal remains of Holy Father was carried out of the church by the Syriac Scouts members from Saint Aphrem Ashrafieh to the Hearse that will go to Syria by road.

The Mortal remains will lie in state at St. George Cathedral in Bab Touma, Damascus, Syria until Friday morning. The final part of the Prayer of the funeral will be completed on Friday, March 28 and the Holy mortal remains will be placed in the tomb at St. Ephrem the Syrian Monastery in Ma’arrat Saydhaya in Damascus.

As per the information available, Patriarch Locum Tenens Archbishop Mor Severius Jamil Hawa will lead the final service. Catholicos Aboon Mor Bsalious Thomas I may not travel to Syria due to security concerns.

Election of the New Patriarch

They Universal Synod will meet on Monday, March 31, 2014 to elect the new Patriarch.
 

Statement from His Beatitude Baselios Thomas I, Catholicose of India

A Statement from the Hierarchs in North America