YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. Bishop Sahak Mashalyan, president of the spiritual council of Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate, announced on March 15 on withdrawing his candidacy in the upcoming election of a Patriarchal locum tenens, Mashalyan told Radio Agos, reports “Armenpress”.

“The voting will be held on March 15 at 15:00. 30 clergymen are eligible to vote. There I will announce removing my candidacy in the locum tenens election so that the votes are not separated”, Mashalyan said.

He called on all his supporters to vote in favor of Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan, Primate of Germany’s Armenian Diocese. “Let people vote in favor of Bekchyan instead of me in the election, let’s think about people. Let them save our own dignity. Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan is the best candidate for the locum tenens”, he said.

The election of a Patriarchal locum tenens will be held on March 15 in Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate. The results of the election will be released on the same day.

Three candidates are nominated for the post – Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan, Primate of Germany’s Armenian Diocese, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, Patriarchal Vicar of Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate and Bishop Sahak Mashalyan, president of the spiritual council of Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate.

The would-be locum tenens will lead the organizing process of the Patriarchal election, and will be the de facto leader of the Patriarchate till the new Patriarch is elected.

Ateshyan will step down as Vicar after the locum tenens election.