Electing dynamic personality as co-patriarch disadvantageous to Turkish government

PanARMENIAN.Net - Constantinople Patriarchate of Armenian Apostolic Church plays an important role for Istanbul's Armenian community. This is the reason why electing а 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.