HH Mor Ignatios Zakka I Iwas became head of the Syrian Orthodox Church in 1980, holding the title Patriarch of Antioch.

He was born in 1932 in Mosul, Iraq. He completed his high school education at St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox School and entered the Mor Aphrem theological school at Mosul in 1946 where he completed his education in 1954. He was ordained priest and became a monk in 1947. Later he completed a Masters degree in English at City University of New York and a Master's degree in Pastoral Theology at General Theological Seminary, New York. He was ordained Metropolitan Mor Severius Zakka by Patriarch Ya`qub III in 1963. In 1964, Mor Severious discovered the remains of St. Thomas in the sanctuary wall of the church at Mosul. In 1969, Mor Severious became the Metropolitan of Baghdad, where he also served as the Head of Syriac Studies and a member of the educational academy. Mor Severius also served as a member of the World Council of Churches. On September 14, 1980, Mor Severius was consecrated the Patriarch of Antioch by name Ignatius Zakka I, in a rite officiated by Catholicos of the East, Mor Baselius Paulos II along with the archbishops of the Holy Synod.

Address

Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch

Bab Touma, P.O. Box 22260

Damascus, Syria

See also

• Syrian Orthodox Church
• Saint Thomas Christians
• History of Syria