Kochi: Mar George Alanchery has been selected as the new major archbishop of Syro Malabar church.Global council of Indian Christians(GCIC) congratulated new major Archbishop for being elected to the coveted position in the Indian church. Mar Geroge replaces Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil, who died months back. Alencherry was chosen by 46 bishops through voting. The announcement came at the same time in Vatican and Kochi.

Mar George was working as the Thackala diocese bishop from 1996. 46 bishops of the Syro Malabar Church have met on Thursday at its headquarters at St. Thomas Mount, Kakkanad to elect the new Major Archbishop

Mar George was born on 1945 in Thuruthiyil Kottayam and was ordained priest on December 18, 1972. It is for the first time that the church itself is selecting the archbishop as earlier they were selected by the Vatican