Ignatius Zakka I
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas (Syriac: ܐܝܓܢܐܛܝܘܣ ܙܟܝ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܥܝܘܐܨ; Arabic: إغناطيوس زكا الأول عيواص; Ignatios Zakkà ‘Īwāṣ, born Sanharib Iwas, 21 April 1931 – 21 March 2014) was the 122nd reigning Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and, as such, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Also known by his traditional episcopal name, Severios, he was enthroned as patriarch on 14 September 1980 in St. George's Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus. He succeeded Ignatius Ya`qub III. As is traditional for the head of the church, Mor Severios adopted the name Ignatius.
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas | |
|---|---|
| 122nd Patriarch of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church | |
| Native name | ܐܝܓܢܐܛܝܘܣ ܙܟܝ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܥܝܘܐܨ إغناطيوس زكا الأول عيواص, |
| Church | Syriac Orthodox Church |
| See | See of Antioch |
| Appointed | 14 September 1980 |
| Term ended | 21 March 2014 |
| Predecessor | Ignatius Ya`qub III |
| Successor | Ignatius Aphrem II |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 17 November 1957 |
| Consecration | 17 November 1963 (as Bishop) 14 September 1980 (as Patriarch) by Ignatius Ya`qub III (as bishop) Baselios Paulose II (as Patriarch) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sanharib Iwas 21 April 1931 |
| Died | 21 March 2014 (aged 82) Kiel, Germany |
| Buried | Sts. Paul and Peter Cathedral, Maarat Saidnaya, Damascus, Syria |
| Nationality | Iraqi/Syrian/Lebanese |
| Denomination | Syriac Orthodox |
| Previous post(s) | Archbishop of Baghdad and Basra Archbishop of Central Europe Metropolitan Bishop of Mosul |
| Alma mater | City University of New York General Theological Seminary |
Zakka was known for his involvement in ecumenical dialogue. He was a president of the World Council of Churches and also a prolific author. He was an observer at Second Vatican Council before becoming metropolitan bishop of Mosul. At the time of his election as patriarch, Mor Severios Zakka was serving as the archbishop of Baghdad and Basra. As patriarch, he established a monastic seminary, met with Pope John Paul II during the Roman Pope's visit to Syria in 2001, and installed numerous metropolitans, including Baselios Thomas I as Catholicos of India. He celebrated his Silver Jubilee in 2005.
Iwas was admitted to a hospital in Germany for angioplasty on 20 February 2014 and died on 21 March 2014.