We experienced just another historic day in the Patriarchate in Kumkapi. Months-long debates have ended, plots have been foiled and finally we came to the point of taking the first step, electing a değabah, in order to hold the patriarchal election. However, “the will” was interrupted. When the state saw that Ateşyan lost the değabah election, it interfered; or, Ateşyan asked state’s help when he lost the election. Either way, it adds up to the same thing.
You know what happened before, but no harm in summarizing it again. As a result of discussions, Ateşyan accepted to launch the process of election, but he has been reluctant to resign as the general vicar of the patriarch. It was obvious that some benefactors and foundation executives were supporting him in this. As a result of some kind of backdoor diplomacy, he managed to make a protocol issued on February 16. However, the society strongly reacted against this protocol and Etchmiadzin stepped in. Finally, Ateşyan was convinced to step down once the değabah is elected. Or, this is what we thought.
After the talks in Etchmiadzin, it was determined that the election of değabah will be held on March 15. There were 3 candidates: Ateşyan, Armenian Primate of Germany Archbishop Bekçiyan and Bishop Maşalyan. Later, Maşalyan stated that he withdrew in favor of Bekçiyan.
To be honest, everyone was suspecting that an obstacle will be created before the election. The rumors that the state doesn’t want election started to spread on March 14; this was a sign. Same day, it was said that there was a meeting in the patriarchate and Ateşyan was inculcating some foundation executives. However, it seems that those executives said that there is no turning back from this point and the election should be held.
Whatever. In the end, the election was held and Bekçiyan was elected as the değabah by getting 23 votes out of 34. However, the effect of this news, which was welcomed with joy by the society, didn’t last long. About half an hour later, Ateşyan slipped a notice from the governor’s office to the press and clerics. The governor’s office had done something that it has no right to do and roughly said, “You have a general vicar, things went crazy on February 16, it is better if you don’t hold this election.”
For God’s sake, could there be a greater scandal? What does the state have to do with this? Why does the state, which is claimed to be secular and we prefer it to be secular, interfere in the patriarchal election? And what’s with those inconsistent and meaningless arguments? After all, it was the Clerical Assembly which elected the general vicar you are talking about. And it is the same assembly which decided to hold an election and finally elected a değabah. How does the state have the right to like and dislike the decisions of that assembly?
This statement in the notice, which was signed by the deputy governor, is very important: “Considering the unfavorable developments that took place during the meeting on February 16 at the patriarchate, it is determined that starting the election process is legally impossible given the facts that this process might cause disturbance and divisions in the society…”
What a state! It made the discussion in Kazaz Amira Hall in the patriarchate its own business. However, this is just the look of it. Obviously, someone led the state to this direction. And the state betrayed itself or the one who led it with such a strange remark in the notice. I mean, this is a two-way road. It wouldn’t be realistic to think that the state has done it on its own. It is obvious that some people who don’t want election planned this plot with the state. Everything aside, what you call “division in the society” is caused by the fact that we cannot elect a patriarch. Besides, it is hardly a division. Rather, there is a consensus on holding an election.
Here is another strange statement: “Your society knows the basic proceedings and practices concerning the patriarchal election and starting the election process is legally impossible.” What about that? Does the state know how to elect a patriarch better than us? Is this even possible? Here is the practice: we elect a patriarch when there is no patriarch. People elect a patriarch. We cannot go on living like this just because the state and the vicar wish so.
We don’t know which other authorities are involved in this. However, we know that the state cannot help to intervene once again and interrupted the will of the Armenian society. What is painful is the fact that we live with people who consider this interference normal.
What will happen next? It is said that Ateşyan and Maşalyan will go to the governor’s office and explain the situation. Can you see how bad this situation is? We are supposed to what for an appointment, then explain ourselves to make the elected değabah approved. And then, maybe we will hold an election.
What should be done is obvious. The society and our institutions shouldn’t give up. The first step is the resignation of Ateşyan. Wasn’t it the decision in the first place? And there is this: we should never forget the shamefulness of the people who made a society consisting only 60,000 people to carry this struggle on top of everything.
