Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Istanbul (Agenzia Fides) - The lengthy absence of Mesrob Mutafyan, the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch in Turkey, due to his illness, has fueled a debate in the country's Armenian religious community regarding whether the patriarch should be replaced with a successor. The Armenian Foundations gathered on October 22 to discuss on the issue of the leadership of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. The President of the Armenian Hospital Foundation in Istanbul claimed that the majority of community members agreed with the election of a successor. This is revealed by Turkish sources consulted by Fides Agency.
The position of the Armenian Foundations is an important element in the debate that began in the Armenian Apostolic community of Turkey on the possible succession of the Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II. Mesrob II remains confined to a Turkish-Armenian hospital in Istanbul where he has been receiving treatment since 2008. Two weeks ago the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul had held three days of prayer and fasting to invoke the miracle of his healing (see Fides 20/10/2014). In the following days, Shirinoglu reported the Patriarch’s clinical situation saying that there is no brain activity. "The doctors – said the President of the Foundation of the Armenian Hospital to Fides Agency - say that recovery is impossible. And there are reports that certify it".
Since 2008 Bishop Aram Ateshian has been serving as the head of the church in his capacity as Patriarchal Vicar. Now influential members of the Armenian community in Turkey - including the same Shirinoglu - debate whether the new patriarch will be a co-patriarch or not. A patriarchal election is required to be held and then submitted, in the form of a request, to the Ministry of the Interior. The regulations, dating back to Ottoman times, allows the election of a new Armenian Patriarch only when the seat is vacant because of the death of the Patriarch. And a first survey on the issue, carried out at the City of Istanbul responsible for the Armenian community, had no positive outcome, the proposed election of a Co-Patriarch was rejected on the grounds that such a procedure would represent a waive to the rules in force for 550 years. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 27/10/2014)
