YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS. The resignation of Archbishop Aram Ateshyan from the post of Patriarchal Vicar of Istanbul’s Armenian Patriarchate means that the patriarchal election process is being started, Bagrat Estukyan – editor of the Armenian department of Istanbul’s Agos newspaper told ARMENPRESS.

“Archbishop Ateshyan’s resignation is a new development, we are still trying to clarify details. Anyhow this means that the patriarchal election process will begin with this resignation. The longer Archbishop Ateshyan remained in office, the process was unable to be started. The elected locum tenens must have led this process, while the latter needed Archbishop Ateshyan to resign in order to exercise his powers”, Estukyan said.

Asked when the election process will begin, Estukyan mentioned that first of all they must wait for the elected locum tenens Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan to return to Istanbul. He had announced that he would return if clear developments happen.

“Now these developments have occurred, and it remains for Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan to return to his seat of locum tenens. Probably the first thing to do will be the formation of a committee”, Estukyan said.