Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople: Turkey did not debar Armenian community from electing its Patriarch

4/12/2010

Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople issued a statement, saying the Turkish Government did not debar the Armenian community from electing its patriarch.

“The rumors the Turkish State tries to debar Armenians from electing a patriarch are unfounded and untrue. A new patriarch will be elected after Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Mersrob Mutafyan’s death, according to Armenian church’s traditions. Any change on the matter is not being discussed,” the patriarchate said in a statement.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Istanbul Armenians collected 5, 359 signatures to oppose Turkish Government’s decision appointing a patriarch vicar replacing current Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Mesrob Mutafyan.

The initiative group “We want to elect our own patriarch” organized a press conference, saying they want to elect a religious leader who will represent Armenian community, Turkish Haberler reports.

The group stressed there are no conflicts within the local Armenian community on the matter and they have no problems with the Turkish government’s decision to appoint Aram Ateshyan a patriarch vicar.

The group of Istanbul Armenians claimed their right to elect a patriarch was violated and they collected 5,359 signatures to appeal to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to restore it.

Famous Istanbul Armenians Harut Ozer, Tigran Altun, Markar Esayan, Karo Palyan and others met with the reporters.

Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Mersrob Mutafyan is permanently ill. He was elected patriarch for life in 1998 by the Armenian community. One group within the Armenian community considers they should elect a new patriarch, whereas another group, objects to this, saying it is against traditions to elect a new patriarch while the elected one is still alive.

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