Bishop Sahak Mashalian was elected the 85th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople today. 

Mashalian’s only competitor for the post, Patriarchal Vicar Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, has congratulated the new patriarch.

“As the senior member of the clergy class at the Constantinople See, I wish that   the unity and fraternity of Turkish-Armenian life would be restored in this new era. It is our prayer that a thriving new period will be opened before this age-old Patriarchate and that its mission will be enriched with new achievements, in the exhaltation of our Holy Church and the benefit of our people,” Ateshyan wrote in his Facebook page.

On December 8, Armenian citizens of Turkey voted for delegates to participate in today’s election.

According to the Istanbul based Agos newspaper, the orange list (Bishop Sahak Mashalian) received 9,008 votes, the purple list (Archbishop Aram Ateshyan) received 3,529 votes.

The orange list thus received 89 delegates, and the purple list 12 delegates.