Archbishop Nourhan Manougian Elected New Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — The Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Archbishop Nourhan Manougian has been elected the 97th Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem on Thursday. Archbishop Nourhan Manougian received 17 votes. Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aris Shirvanian received 15 votes.
The patriarchal elections were held in two rounds. The first stage of the patriarchal elections launched in the hall of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem on January 23. Solely celibate members of the convent could partake in the patriarchal elections. Five candidates were chosen in the first stage of the elections by secret polling.
Archbishop Nurhan Manougian was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1948 and ordained in Jerusalem in 1971. His election must be approved by Israel and the Jordanian king.
In accordance with the Statute of the Jerusalem Convent (1882) 35 year old archimandrites and bishops can become patriarchal candidates. On January 25 an assembly dedicated to the issue of legislative reforms will be convoked in the patriarchate.
The former patriarcha Rev. Archbishop Torkom Manougian had passed away at the age of 93 aftrer long illness.