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ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF TURKEY APPEALS TO ELECT ITS PATRIARCH
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-228493-armenian-community-of-turkey-appeals-to-elect-its-patriarch.html
Dec 2 2010
Turkey
Turkey's Armenian community has collected approximately 5,000
signatures in order to have the right to elect its patriarch following
the appointment of a patriarchal vicar general as the current patriarch
is permanently ill.
Calling themselves the "We Want to Elect our own Patriarch Initiative,"
the group said in a press conference yesterday that they want to
elect their religious leader, who is supposed to represent their
community. The Armenian Patriarchate based in Ä°stanbul had turned to
the Turkish government to ask how to proceed with the election of the
patriarch since Mesrob II Mutafyan, who was elected patriarch for life
in 1998 by the Armenian community, has been permanently ill. One group
within the Armenian community is of the view that they should choose a
new patriarch; another group, however, objected to this, arguing that
it was against their traditions to choose a new patriarch while the
elected one was still alive, no matter how unfit for duty. However, the
internal conflict within the Armenian community on the issue continues.
The second group suggested choosing a "co-patriarch." At the end,
both groups turned to the government for approval of the "election
procedure." Even though there is no law, bylaw or regulation in
Turkey regarding this process, the Turkish government told the
Armenian community to appoint a patriarchal vicar general because a
new patriarch could not be chosen while the elected one is still alive.
Aram AteÅ~_yan was then elected as the patriarchal vicar general.
Speaking on behalf of the initiative, Harut Ozer said their right
to elect their own patriarch had been taken away even though the
Armenian Church has traditionally elected its religious leaders by
majority vote of its laity.
The initiative's Tatyos Bebek said they tried to solve the problem
within the Armenian community, but since AteÅ~_yan refused to talk
with them, they had to go public with their demands.
Taraf daily columnist Markar Esayan, also from the initiative, said
their rights had been violated.
The initiative now plans to appeal to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to voice its demands. "Our right to elect our own patriarch
has been taken away because the 'patriarchal vicar general' position
was created against the traditions of the Armenian Church. In a
democratic and secular state, we cannot accept such interference in
the patriarchal election, which is the right of the Armenian community
based on historical traditions," their statement read.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-228493-armenian-community-of-turkey-appeals-to-elect-its-patriarch.html
Dec 2 2010
Turkey
Turkey's Armenian community has collected approximately 5,000
signatures in order to have the right to elect its patriarch following
the appointment of a patriarchal vicar general as the current patriarch
is permanently ill.
Calling themselves the "We Want to Elect our own Patriarch Initiative,"
the group said in a press conference yesterday that they want to
elect their religious leader, who is supposed to represent their
community. The Armenian Patriarchate based in Ä°stanbul had turned to
the Turkish government to ask how to proceed with the election of the
patriarch since Mesrob II Mutafyan, who was elected patriarch for life
in 1998 by the Armenian community, has been permanently ill. One group
within the Armenian community is of the view that they should choose a
new patriarch; another group, however, objected to this, arguing that
it was against their traditions to choose a new patriarch while the
elected one was still alive, no matter how unfit for duty. However, the
internal conflict within the Armenian community on the issue continues.
The second group suggested choosing a "co-patriarch." At the end,
both groups turned to the government for approval of the "election
procedure." Even though there is no law, bylaw or regulation in
Turkey regarding this process, the Turkish government told the
Armenian community to appoint a patriarchal vicar general because a
new patriarch could not be chosen while the elected one is still alive.
Aram AteÅ~_yan was then elected as the patriarchal vicar general.
Speaking on behalf of the initiative, Harut Ozer said their right
to elect their own patriarch had been taken away even though the
Armenian Church has traditionally elected its religious leaders by
majority vote of its laity.
The initiative's Tatyos Bebek said they tried to solve the problem
within the Armenian community, but since AteÅ~_yan refused to talk
with them, they had to go public with their demands.
Taraf daily columnist Markar Esayan, also from the initiative, said
their rights had been violated.
The initiative now plans to appeal to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to voice its demands. "Our right to elect our own patriarch
has been taken away because the 'patriarchal vicar general' position
was created against the traditions of the Armenian Church. In a
democratic and secular state, we cannot accept such interference in
the patriarchal election, which is the right of the Armenian community
based on historical traditions," their statement read.
From: A. Papazian