ISTANBUL’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY WISHES TO SEE SEBOUH CHOULDJIAN AS CO-PATRIARCH

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2010 20:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s policy managed to create an atmosphere
of fear among Istanbul’s Armenian community, which later extended to
clergy, according to expert Ruben Melkonyan .

Istanbul’s Armenian community faces serious legal status-related
problems, the expert told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Dwelling on oncoming election of co-patriarch at the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople, Melkonyan noted that Istanbul’s
Armenian community wishes to see Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian as
co-patriarch.

"Sebouh Chouldjian’s election campaign was brilliant. The Bishop
advanced new and brave ideas, which were in synch with Armenian
community’s position; namely, modernisation of Armenian schools and
cessation of outmarriages" Ruben Melkonyan stated, characterizing
Sebouh Chouldjian as the spiritual leader community needs.

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.