It is impossible to defrock Ateshyan (video)
The statement of Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, General Vicar of Armenian Patriarch in Turkey, against the Armenian Genocide resolution adopted by German Bundestag, proved his weakness. “Vicar Ateshyan is not able to find the right opportunity and solution, by which he can face the pressures of the Turkish authorities, by not constantly losing the interests of Armenia and the role of the Patriarchate,” says ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan. The Turkish authorities have always tried to put pressure on all the patriarchs in Turkey, trying to extort statements denying the Genocide from them. Unlike the former patriarchs, Archbishop Ateshyan surrendered to pressures and condemned the decision of Bundestag. “Such a statement, which will essentially contradict to the historical events, interests of Armenians and will become a part of Turkish falsifications and denial, has never been registered,” notes Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan. Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reacted to the letter of Archbishop Ateshyan to Erdogan, highlighting that it has nothing to do with the Armenian Church and its stance. The Armenian clergy don’t rule out the possible use of pressure against the Archbishop. “He did it by simply trying to alleviate the hatred of Turks conditioned by the decision of Bundestag,” says Komitas Vardapet. According to Turkologist Ruben Melkonyan, the situation can be corrected only by holding elections of new patriarch, where there will be slight chances of Archbishop Ateshyan to be reelected. He cannot be defrocked, as he is a patriarch. “The complaints of the Armenian community about Archbishop Ateshyan, have increased and maybe the wave of protest may result in other developments inside the community. It is a fact that Ateshyan doesn’t enjoy the support of the Armenian community, it is obvious,” notes Turkologist. The representatives of the Armenian community in Turkey condemned the letter of Archbishop Ateshyan. In the response letter published in Armenian AGOS weekly, the thoughts of the Archbishop are considered as disrespect towards the ancestors, victims of the Genocide and the genocide survivors.
