Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Friday


Three members of Initiative group responsible for Istanbul Armenian
patriarchal election resign



YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Three members of the Initiative group
engaged in organization of the election of Armenian patriarch of
Istanbul have resigned, Agos reports.

Among these resignations is the head of the Initiative group. It’s
worth mentioning that these resignations were followed by a meeting
with Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin.

Bishop Sahak Mashalyan, president of the spiritual council of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, Bedros
Sirinoglu, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Armenian hospital of
St. Savior in Istanbul, as well as head of the Initiative group for
the patriarchal election Sargis Kulegech paid an official visit to the
Istanbul Governor’s Office on October 24 to meet with Governor
VasipSahin.

Bagrat Estukyan, editor-in-chief of the Armenian language department
of Agos newspaper, told ARMENPRESSthat according to their information,
the Governor said that he doesn’t recognize the fact of Archbishop
Garegin Bekchian being elected as patriarchal locum tenens. Archbishop
Aram Ateshyan and Bishop Sahak Mashalyan were suggested to start this
process from the beginning.

Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan was not present at the meeting, he is in
currently in Germany. But he issued a statement over the meeting in
the Governor’s Office. Archbishop Bekchyan said he will return to
Istanbul soon. He expressed hope that after the return he will
personally meet with the Governor to express his opinions over the
issue of the patriarchal election.