CHURCHES

Agos responded to Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, General Vicar of Armenian Patriarch in Turkey, who is severly criticized by the Armenian society because of his letter addressed to President Erdoğan: "You define the systematic and almost complete annihilation of a people by the decision of the state itself as 'the events happened during the tragic times of World War I'; this is an affront to the ancestors, victims and the survivors in the eyes of the society to which you also belong.”

Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, General Vicar of Armenian Patriarch in Turkey, sent a letter to President Erdoğan about the Armenian Genocide resolution of Bundestag. In the letter, Ateşyan defined the passing of the resolution as “abuse of Armenian nation by imperialist forces”. Claiming that the decision caused a deep regret in Armenian nation, he said “we submit our regret to your dignified office”.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a letter of condolence to April 24 mass that was held in Kumkapı Surp Asdvadzadzin Church.

The expropriation decision made by the cabinet in Sur province of Diyarbakir caused disquiet. Stating that the cabinet should correct this decision, Archbishop Aram Ateşyan said that they demanded a meeting with Minister of Environment Sarı. Lawyer of Surg Giragos Church Ali Elbeyoğlu said, “The execution of this decision shouldn't be under the initiative of the government. We will appeal this decision. The decision of the cabinet should be corrected by the cabinet itself.”

Surp Giragos Church, the largest Armenian church in Middle East, is among the places in Sur province of Diyarbakir that are expropriated by the decision of the cabinet. With the same decision, Syriac, Chaldean and Protestant churches are also expropriated.

Armenian society is also nervous about the recent suicide attacks. The Patriarchate made a statement to Agos about the rumors concerning the Easter that will be celebrated on next Sunday.

We talked to the Metropolite of the Diocese of Gougark of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Sebouh Chouldjian and the Primate of the Diocese of Germany of the Armenian Church Archbishop Karekin Bekdjian about their expectations from the patriarch election. After Mari Mutafyan is assigned as the guardian for the Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan, the debate about the elections started all over again.

The case for assigning a guardian for the Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan is concluded. On the hearing held on March 8, the court decided Mutafyan's mother Mari Mutafyan to be assigned as the guardian.

Privately-owned Armenian Catholic Church and French Church which belongs to General Directorate for Foundations (VGM) has similar fates, but what is currently happening to them is different.

A lawsuit was filed with the request of appointing a guardian for Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople Mesrob II Mutafyan and during the first hearing, his mother Diramayr Mari Mutafyan stated that she accepts to be appointed as the guardian.