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198 Abu-Tauḳ, the Wali of Damascus. The election was held on September 25, 1724. No bishop was present; it was made by priests and lay "notables." Seraphim was then ordained Patriarch by Basil Fīnān, Metropolitan of Baïas, Neophytos Naṣrī of Ṣaidnāiā, and a third bishop, Euthymios of Furzul, himself ordained for this occasion. According to custom, Seraphim changed his name as Patriarch and became Cyril VI. There were then fifteen sees in the Patriarchate; of these ten bishops adhered to Cyril VI.

Meanwhile his rival, Silvester the Cypriote, did not remain idle. He went off to Jerusalem, and told that Patriarch of the alarming progress Popery was making in the neighbouring country. He presented his own claim, as nominee of the last Patriarch of Antioch, and explained that, if he were appointed, he would put down this tendency. So Jerusalem took his side and informed the Synod of Constantinople of what was happening. Constantinople and Jerusalem now declare for Silvester. He was then ordained at Constantinople. He succeeded also in alarming the Turks about the defections of so many Syrians to the Frank religion, and came back to Syria armed with laws against Catholics. All those who have joined the communion of the Pope are to return, no intercourse with the missionaries is tolerated, and they are to be expelled. The Government