On July 1, French diocese Archbishop Norvan Zakarian submitted his resignation to Catholicos of All-Armenians Karekin II. It was followed by the fact that His Holiness has made a severe reprimand publicly to the Archbishop because of the Father Vache Hayrapetyan, the pastor formerly in French city of Nice, and currently in Strasbourg. Archbishop Zakarian Norvan, in an interview with “ABC FM” Armenian radio-station in France, commented that initially the Catholicos always underestimated his working style and execution of spiritual obligations. Now, elections are expected for the position of French Diocese leader in November, and some candidates to outlined. The authority in charge Diocesan elections recommended the Belgian patriarchal delegate vicar Rev. Father Zatik Avetikian to participate in the elections.
The other candidates were Bishop Tatev Hakobyan Armenian Diocese of Romania, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America Diocesan Delegate Archbishop Vigen Aykazyan, Nice pastor father Grigor Khachatryan, and Rev. Mesrop Barsamian, primate of southern France. According to information of Aravot.am, Vigen sacred is the candidate of his Holiness and the Holy See favorite, which gave rise to the reason that Tatev Grace recommended by Diocesan in the result of the call received from the Holly See withdraws his candidacy because, most likely, his candidacy would pass. As for Rev. Zatik, he was offered only by one person, and the other members were against.
Thus, Tatev Bishop’s candidacy was removed by the call from the Holy See, Rev Zatik’s candidacy was categorically rejected in France due to his inappropriate, non abstemious and secular history during the religious clergy, Rev. Mesrop has a problem of age, 33 years old, while the compulsory age for being the spiritual leader is 35. In fact, sacred Vigen and Father Grigor will “filght” for the position of spiritual leader of the Church of France. In reality, there will be no “fight”, because the candidacy of Father Grigor is formally nominated to create an imitation of election.
Gohar Hakobyan
