After the death of Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV in 1894, a rivalry began between Abded Mshiho and Gregorius Abded Sattuf, metropolitan bishop of Homs and Hama, to be elected to the patriarchal throne. According to American missionaries operating in Syria at the time, the Ottoman government interfered and intimidated bishops based on the highest bidder.[1] However, in 1895, Abded Mshiho was elected and consecrated patriarch, upon which he assumed the patriarchal name Ignatius.