Candidate for Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey cool toward Politics

VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
30/5/2011

The Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey should do its best to steer clear of politics, according to a possible future patriarch. Archbishop Karekin Bekjian, a candidate for the patriarchate and a primate of the German diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, speaks to Hürriyet Daily News when he was in in Istanbul to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the patriarchate, which was only marked by a low-profile service and a small reception due to the continuing illness of titular Patriarch Mesrop II.

The Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey would do best to steer clear of politics, according to a possible future patriarch who has vowed to keep politics at an arm’s length from the church if elected to the post.

“Even though I am personally concerned about politics, I would not advise the Patriarchate to get involved in such matters,” Archbishop Karekin Bekjian, a candidate for the patriarchate and a primate of the German diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, told the Hürriyet Daily News on Sunday.

Bekjian was in Istanbul to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the patriarchate, which was only marked by a low-profile service and a small reception due to the continuing illness of titular Patriarch Mesrop II, who is incapable of discharging his duties due to dementia. Grandiose plans to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the patriarchate were turned down by prominent figures within the Armenian community due to the patriarch’s illness.

In his stead, Archbishop Aram Ateşyan was appointed as acting patriarch although Bekjian was one of the leading opponent’s of Ateşyan’s investiture.

“A deputy patriarch was already appointed in 1998 while Mesrop II was still in good health. Why was [someone else] appointed [afterwards]? Was there a deal with the state? There should have been an election for the patriarch as if the the current patriarch were dead,” Bekjian said.

Discussing his current role, Bekjian said his primary duty as a cleric was to maintain the church’s well-being.

“Any bonds that will form between the diaspora [and the Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey] must come about of its own accord. If they prefer to recognize the patriarchate, then they will; and if they prefer otherwise, then we will not feel any special obligation to reach out to them,” said Bekjian, who is well-acquainted with the Armenian diaspora because of his residence in Germany.

Asked whether he would become a Turkish citizen if elected as patriarch, Bekjian said he currently had both Turkish and German citizenship.

During the ceremony, Ateşyan also presented Mustafa Sarıgül, the mayor of Istanbul’s Şişli district, with a Patriarchate Special Service Gold Medal, marking the first time that a person of Turkish descent has been awarded the honor.

Training future clerics

Mesrop II had suggested opening a theology department within a university several years ago to raise new clerics for Istanbul’s Armenian community, Bekjian said.

“The idea of sending young clerics to theology departments in Europe had also come up, [but] I am not warm to that idea. Clerics must be chosen from among the Armenians of Istanbul so that they can understand the mentality, the cast of that mind that exists here,” Bekjian said.

Authorities used to permit the raising of new clerics at the Tıbrevank School in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district in the early 1960s, but this right was revoked in 1968, the archbishop said. The school, which still operates as the Private Surp Haç High School, lost its status as a foundation in 1985, he said.

If the Halki Seminary on Heybeliada Island were to be opened again, then the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey could also take advantage of the situation, and clerics graduating from the seminary could then enroll in theology seminars abroad before returning to Turkey, Bekjian said.

“Our people in Germany speak Turkish and preach in Turkish. [Even though] the Armenian community has a past in Europe that goes back 150 years, they do not have established traditions there,” said Bekjian.

The Armenian community of Istanbul, however, thrived on a well-established system of traditions, according to Bekjian.

“Istanbul is my memories, my everything. For me, Istanbul is a never-dying aspiration. I could not live without this city,” Bekjian said.

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