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Archbishop Aram Ateshian has offered congratulations to Bishop Sahak Mashalian, who is set to become the 85th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.

Bishop Sahak Mashalian previously served as the Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul.

In a post on Facebook on Wednesday, Aram Ateshian wished him every success.

“As the eldest member of the clergy, I wish that unity and brotherhood be re-established inside the national religious life of the Turkish Armenian community,” Ateshian wrote.

“It is our prayer that a new flourishing period may open before this age-old Patriarchate and that its mission may be enriched with new achievements for the benefit of our Holy Church and our dear people. God bless the 85th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople!”

The elections of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople are held in three stages. On 7 December the General Religious Assembly elected the 17 religious delegates.

On 8 December Istanbul Armenians cast their votes for the 103 secular delegates representing the two candidates for the post. 89 out of the 103 secular delegates supported Sahak Mashalian, while the remaining 12 – Aram Ateshian. Today the delegates voted to elected the new Patriarch.