Garegin Archbishop Bekjian, former prelate of the German diocese and considered one of the candidates for the 85th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, will not be nominated in the patriarchal elections to be held in December. Archbishop Bekjian announced this in a letter sent to the patriarchate the previous day.
“Under the present circumstances, when the rights of some 10 holy bishops have been violated and their possibilities of being candidates have been erased, I deem it appropriate, in solidarity with them, likewise not to present myself as a candidate. The restriction of the directive poses a danger for the future of the patriarchate,” Garegin Bekjian stated in his letter, urging the other two candidates as well not to be nominated, in the name of equality and justice.
About a month ago, the Turkish Ministry of the Interior sent the patriarchate a corresponding regulation for the election of a new patriarch, according to which only bishops subject to the patriarchal see of Constantinople can be candidates for patriarch. Thus, with the decision of Garegin Archbishop Bekjian not to be nominated, two candidates will contend for the patriarchal throne: the current patriarchal locum tenens, Bishop Sahak Mashalian, and the president of the Religious Council, Aram Archbishop Ateshyan.
