YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Germany, patriarchal locum tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul Archbishop Garegin Bekchian responded to the announcement of patriarchal vicar Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Zhamanak Daily reported.

Bekchian reminded that during the October 26, 2016 Church Congress the Patriarchal throne was announced vacant, which was an imperative for holding patriarchal election.

In February of 2017, during a meeting in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin a decision was made to hold locum tenens election, which had to be followed by Ateshian stepping down from his post, and the patriarchal election must have been held within six months. According to the decision, the locum tenens election was held on March 15, with Ateshian taking part as a candidate. Bekchian underscored that despite the agreement, Ateshian didn’t resign after the election and didn’t step down as vicar.

“My Archbishop brother Aram Ateshian talked about balance in his poor announcement. What kind of balance is it? Between who? For what reason and purpose was it created for? How does it work? What makes this balance so vital? Is this balance and its maintenance so important for our community, that despite this many demands, church rules and religious traditions, he wants to maintain the post which he captured through persistence? These questions are valid, but the answers are so painful that we don’t want to hear it”, Bekchian’s letter said.

The announcement mentions that “they treat with sorrow” my initiatives from Cologne. My open and transparent initiatives are made for maintain the honor of our church, dignity of clergy and traditions. They don’t have the purpose of saddening anyone.

Debating isn’t for the clergy. We must speak solely about our holy religion, the dignity of our church, the honor of our people and only the truth.

I will return to Istanbul in a few days. I find it to be my duty to inform the community and the entire public with a wider and comprehensive announcement”.