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ISTANBUL: Turkey's Armenians have two candidates for co-patriarch

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  • ISTANBUL: Turkey's Armenians have two candidates for co-patriarch

    Today's Zaman
    07 January 2010, Thursday
    YASEMIN BUDAK Ä°STANBUL


    Turkey's Armenians have two candidates for co-patriarch
    As the Armenian Patriarchate in Ä°stanbul tries to designate a
    `co-patriarch' in light of the illness of Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan or
    Mesrob II, two religious leaders have announced their candidacy.

    Sebouh Chuljyan, the primate of the Gougark diocese in
    Armenia. Another is the German Armenians' leader, Bishop Karekin
    Bekjyan. Both are qualified since they were born in Turkey as required
    and have impressive religious qualifications. Among six candidates,
    the two replied positively to the Armenian patriarchate's letter
    asking whether or not they would put themselves forward as candidates.

    Bishop Karekin is expected to meet the Armenian Orthodox community in
    Ä°stanbul soon as he will travel to Turkey following the
    Armenian Church's New Year on Jan. 6.

    The Turkish Armenian community recognizes Mesrob Mutafyan as their
    community's spiritual leader until the end of his life.

    An announcement on the patriarchate's Web site in December stated that
    they had submitted an application to the relevant authorities toward
    the selection of a co-patriarch. The statement noted that until the
    emergence of health problems, Patriarch Mesrob II had served in his
    position for 11 years and that on Dec. 24, 2008, the patriarchate
    decided that he would be the community's spiritual leader until his
    death.

    The application was accepted by Ä°stanbul Governor Muammer
    Güler and has been forwarded as required to the Ministry of the
    Interior, the patriarchate added.
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