According to the statement of Ara Koçunyan, the editor of “Jamanak” daily, a not certain, sometimes even contradictory attitude is in place towards Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Deputy Patriarch of Constantinople. He views this as the reason why the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople commenced to operate non-publicly.
Mr. Koçunyan assured that the closed doors of the church, surely, is a rather sad occurrence, but the situation has dictated to do so. He explained: “Particularly after the referendum, polarizations occurred within the community. From one hand, people against Aram Ateshian told that he wanted to detain and freeze the pre-electoral process, from the other hand, when the Patriarchate operated towards making that cart move, this time they were saying as if that man wanted to strengthen his position. This is why the Patriarchate started to work non-publicly, to make a result.”
Pursuant to Ara Koçunyan, the Armenian community of Turkey has wanted to have a new patriarch for nine years: “The patriarchal seat is vacant and the religious life of our community is regarded out of the religious stream, it is in an apoplectic condition. Throughout these nine years of not having a reigning patriarch, although our community is the most populous in Turkey, because of that, it had the least participation in the reforms directed towards the minorities. Our national religious life is in a headless condition.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
