YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Aram Ateshian will arrive to the Holy See on February 23, “Armenpress” reports Istanbul-based “Zhamanak” daily informs.

According to the periodical, Head of the Armenian Diocese of Germany Archbishop Garegin Bekchian arrived on February 20, while Chairman of the Clerical Assembly of Istanbul Bishop Sahak Mashalyan arrived to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the morning of February 21. “The three top clerics will have an opportunity to have a sincere discussion over the situation with elections of the Patriarch of Istanbul”, writes the periodical.

Chairman of the Clerical Assembly of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul Bishop Sahak Mashalian announced on February 13 about his resignation, informing that General Vicar Aram Ateshian is to blame for his decision. Mashalian released a letter explaining his steps, noting that he made the decision on February 13 due to Ateshian’s behavior during the Clerical Assembly meeting. He also informed that he does not want to bid for Patriarchy and plans to leave Istanbul.

The crisis of relations between Ateshian and Mashalyan is overcome. Both of them will continue their tenures.