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Candidate For Armenian Patriarchate Of Turkey Cool Toward Politics

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  • Candidate For Armenian Patriarchate Of Turkey Cool Toward Politics

    CANDIDATE FOR ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF TURKEY COOL TOWARD POLITICS

    Hurriyet
    May 30 2011
    Turkey

    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
    Hurriyet 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

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

    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 Hurriyet
    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 AteÅ~_yan was appointed as acting
    patriarch although Bekjian was one of the leading opponent's of
    AteÅ~_yan'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, AteÅ~_yan also presented Mustafa Sarıgul, the
    mayor of Istanbul's Å~^iÅ~_li 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 Uskudar district in the early 1960s, but this
    right was revoked in 1968, the archbishop said. The school, which
    still operates as the Private Surp Hac 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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