In the name of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and the Fathers of the Holy Synod, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II offered his congratulations to His Beatitude Joseph I Absi, newly elected Greek Catholic Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem, at the Greek Catholic Patriarchal Residence in Ain Trez, Lebanon. 

His Holiness also offered his congratulations to the Greek Catholic Patriarch Emeritus Gregorius III Laham and all the Archbishops members of the Greek Catholic Melkite Synod who were present.

His Holiness headed a delegation from the Syriac Orthodox Church which included their Eminences: Mor Theophilus George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Themotheos Thomas, Metropolitan of Kottayam, Mor Gregorius Joseph, Metropolitan of Kochi and Secretary of the Regional Synod, Mor Justinus Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Patriarchal Vicar in the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh, Mor Timotheos Matthew, Patriarchal Secretary for Indian Affairs, and Very Rev. Raban Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

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