Kochi: Mar George Alencherry, Thakkala Diocese Bishop, has been elected as the new Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church at the ongoing seven-day Syro Malabar Church Bishops synod near here.

The announcement was made simultaneously at Vatican and Kochi Thursday.

The announcement at Kochi was made by Thalassery Diocese Bishop Mar George Valiamattom, who was chairing the synod which began at the church headquarters in Mount St Thomas on May 23.

The post fell vacant following the death of Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil on April 1.

This was the first time that the Synod of 44 prelates was electing the head of the about four million strong Church.

The previous Major Archbishops, Antony Padiara and Varkey Vithayathil were selected by the Vatican as at that time the Syro-Malabar Church was not an autonomous body.

The former Pope John Paul II in 1992 had raised the Syro-Malabar Church to the status of the Apostolic, Indian, Catholic and Eastern (Major Archepiscopal sui iuris (Autonomous) Church of the Saint Thomas Christians.

The installation of the Major Archbishop and the inauguration of the first Synod of the Bishops of the Church was held at Ernakulam on May 20, 1993.