Theophilos elected new Jerusalem patriarch, Greek political leadership congratulates

    Theophilos, until recently Archbishop of Tabor, was unanimously elected the new Patriarch of Jerusalem by the 14 members of the Holy Synod on Monday.

    Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantini and Metropolitan Alexius of Tver who had been short-listed along with Theophilos, withdrew from the final election round.

    Theophilos, from Messinia, Greece, is 55 years old.

    President Karolos Papoulias sent a telegram of congratulations to newly elected Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos, who was elected earlier in the day to succed deposed patriarch Irineos.

    Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has also conveyed his congratulations to newly elected Jerusalem Patriarch Theophilos, the government spokesman noted during his regular press briefing.

    Other telegrams expressing their congratulations were also issued by Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou and Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyanni.

   

    In a related development, Deputy Foreign Minister Panayiotis Skandalakis called the entire procedure to elect a new Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy Land "flawless".

    He also conveyed his congratulations to Theophilos and to the entire Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher for the "moderation and wisdom in which they faced the provocations of the past few months."