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'PATRIARCH' AND 'CO-PATRIARCH' CHAOS AMONG TURKEY'S ARMENIANS
armradio.am
01.02.2010 18:47
Elections for the Armenian patriarch in Turkey have been cast into
confusion with two separate applications filed to hold the polls.
While the patriarchate's clerical board intends to elect a
'co-patriarch,' an 'Entrepreneur Committee' of community foundation
directors is insisting on electing a completely new patriarch, the
Hurriyet Daily News reports.
Upcoming elections to select a new patriarch for Turkey's Armenians
have become increasingly enveloped in confusion as two separate
community applications to hold the polls were recently filed with
the Istanbul Governor's Office.
The patriarchate's clerical board recently decided to elect a
co-patriarch for the Armenian community due to the deteriorating heath
condition of current Patriarch Mesrop II. The elected co-patriarch
would then become the patriarch following Mesrop II's death.
At the same time, the Entrepreneur Committee, a body consisting of the
directors of the community's foundations, has initiated proceedings
to elect a completely new patriarch. This means that two separate
applications to elect the community's religious leader have now been
filed with the Istanbul Governor.
After learning of the committee's application, the clerical board
released a statement condemning the filing of election papers, as the
double application has cast a shadow over the co-patriarch elections
tentatively scheduled to be held May 12.
Intra-communal debate on the matter has led to calls for the election
of a co-patriarch. According to the canon law of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, an elected patriarch holds his title until death, meaning
that it is impossible to elect a new patriarch until the passing of
the incumbent one.
armradio.am
01.02.2010 18:47
Elections for the Armenian patriarch in Turkey have been cast into
confusion with two separate applications filed to hold the polls.
While the patriarchate's clerical board intends to elect a
'co-patriarch,' an 'Entrepreneur Committee' of community foundation
directors is insisting on electing a completely new patriarch, the
Hurriyet Daily News reports.
Upcoming elections to select a new patriarch for Turkey's Armenians
have become increasingly enveloped in confusion as two separate
community applications to hold the polls were recently filed with
the Istanbul Governor's Office.
The patriarchate's clerical board recently decided to elect a
co-patriarch for the Armenian community due to the deteriorating heath
condition of current Patriarch Mesrop II. The elected co-patriarch
would then become the patriarch following Mesrop II's death.
At the same time, the Entrepreneur Committee, a body consisting of the
directors of the community's foundations, has initiated proceedings
to elect a completely new patriarch. This means that two separate
applications to elect the community's religious leader have now been
filed with the Istanbul Governor.
After learning of the committee's application, the clerical board
released a statement condemning the filing of election papers, as the
double application has cast a shadow over the co-patriarch elections
tentatively scheduled to be held May 12.
Intra-communal debate on the matter has led to calls for the election
of a co-patriarch. According to the canon law of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, an elected patriarch holds his title until death, meaning
that it is impossible to elect a new patriarch until the passing of
the incumbent one.