ELECTING DYNAMIC PERSONALITY AS CO-PATRIARCH DISADVANTAGEOUS TO TURKISH GOVERNMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.01.2010 16:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Constantinople Patriarchate of Armenian Apostolic
Church plays an important role for Istanbul’s Armenian community. This
is the reason why electing Á dynamic personality, capable of activating
the work of patriarchate as a co-patriarch, is disadvantageous to
Turkish government, turkologist Ruben Melkonyan said.

"At present, there are 3 candidates for co-patriarch position: Bishop
Sebouh Chuljyan, the primate of the Gougark diocese in Armenia, Bishop
Karekin Bekjyan and Archbishop Aram Ateshian," Ruben Melkonyan told
a news conference in Yerevan.

According to him, wishes and opinion of Turkish government will be
reflected in co-patriarch elections. "Should Patriarchate fulfill its
functions, it will be capable of building a bridge between Istanbul
and Armenia," he concluded.

In early December, Istanbul’s Armenian community applied to Istanbul
Governor Muammer Guler for a permission to elect a "co-patriarch"
in light of the illness of Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan. According
to Turkey’s constitution, religious minorities can’t elect their
spiritual leader; instead, a candidature should be offered for Turkish
government’s confirmation.

The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople also known as Armenian
Patriarch of Istanbul is today head of The Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople, one of the smallest Patriarchates of the Oriental
Orthodox Church but has exerted a very significant political role
and today still exercises a spiritual authority, which earns him
considerable respect among Oriental Orthodox churches.

The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople recognizes the primacy
of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in the
spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Armenian Church, the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia,
in matters that pertain to the worldwide Armenian Church. In local
matters, the Patriarchal See is autonomous.