ATHENS, August 22 (RIA Novosti) - A new Orthodox patriarch of the Holy Land was chosen in Jerusalem Monday.
All 18 members of the Holy Synod voted unanimously for Archbishop Theofilos, 55, the Greek media reported.
His predecessor, Irineos, elected in 2001 was accused of unsanctioned property transactions in March 2005.
In the ensuing crisis, the Holy Synod decided to dismiss Irineos on May 6, but he refused to recognize their decision. An All-Orthodox council met in Istanbul to resolve the conflict and reaffirmed the patriarch's dismissal on May 24.
Theofilos was the patriarch's exarch in Qatar before his election. He became bishop in the beginning of 2005.
