Aram Ateshyan applies to Istanbul province to hold election of new patriarch

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. The General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, ArchbishopAram Ateshyan,has applied to Istanbul Province governor Vasip Şahin to hold new elections of Patriarch. As Armenpress reports, the official website of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople informs this. It was informed from the Patriarchate that ArchbishopAramAteshyan made the application taking into account the desires of the community.

In 2008 it was announced thatMesrob Mutafyanwas suffering from Alzheimer's disease and hassincewithdrawn from all his duties and from public life. However he still officially remains patriarch. Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, who is from Diyarbakır, is running the day-to-day affairs of the Patriarchate after being appointed as Patriarchal Vicar of Constantinople with 25 of the 26 members of the Religious Council voting for him and awaiting the official election of a new Patriarch.