ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF TURKEY TO ELECT CO-PATRIARCH
Noyan Tapan
June 17, 2009
ISTANBUL, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Turkish government
decided to empower the Armenian community of the country to elect
a Co-patriarch.
According to the Marmara daily, which cites the Turkish Hurriyet
daily, the decision was made taking into account the health problems
of Armenian Patriarch in Istanbul Mesrob Mutafian.
The Turkish newspaper wrote that thus the Armenian Patriarchate
receiving the permission to elect, is to apply to the government
during the coming months for doing the election, because the
Patriarch’s position has vital importance for the Armenian community
in Turkey. After the appeal the government is to amend the law about
the election of the Patriarch which was used during the elections of
1998. After this amendment the Armenian Patriarch in Turkey should
be elected as a Co-patriarch. According to the Marmara daily, he will
be empowered to wear Patriarch’s clothes, but Archbishop Mesrob will
retain his primary position.