Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian, the current Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, has been elected 97th Armenian Patriarch.

After the first stage of elections, five contenders were left, including Manoogian and the second favorite Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, the Patriarchate’s Director of Ecumenical Affairs.

Manoogian, who until his election had been the Patriarchateэs Grand Sacristan, will succeed the late patriarch, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian who passed away last year at the age of 93.

Following his death, the General Assembly of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem had elected Archbishop Aris Shirvanian as Patriarchal Locum Tenens of the Patriarchate.