ISTANBUL,Turkey (AGOS)—Bishop Sahak Mashalian, the Chairman of the devout Council of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul, and announced his resignation in a statement released on Feb. 13,stating that General Vicar Aram Ateshian is to blame for his decision. Bishop Mashalian (Photo: Agos) Mashalian stated in his resignation letter that his decision came after the Clerical Assembly assembly on Feb. 13, where he stated that Archbishop Ateshian had “unfavorable attitudes.” Mashalian also announced that he will step down from his candidacy for the patriarchal seat, and has plans to leave Istanbul. The devout Council voted Archbishop Aram Ateshian to lead the Patriarchate after Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan withdrew from his duties after diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. In his letter,Mashalian outlined the proper procedure for holding patriarchal elections, indicating Ateshian’s attempts to sabotage the process. He went on to explain that the devout council had set up a commission comprised of four clerics, and which was to submit an application to the authorities about holding new elections. However,according to him, Ateshian did not allow the letter to be submitted to the governor of Istanbul, or which has suspended the submission process. Mashalian famous that the elections should be held following the constitutional [...]
Source: armenianweekly.com