03/08/2019 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – Mesrob II, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, has passed away today at Istanbul’s Holy Savior Armenian Hospital. He mysteriously entered into a coma in 2008, and remained in a vegetative state since then.

The Armenian church has sought permission from Turkish authorities to elect a new patriarch since Mesrob II fell ill. However, the Turkish government consistently blocked the elections, despite many petitions from the Armenians and international community. Turkish law prohibits electing a new patriarch while the standing patriarch remains alive. For this reason, Aram Ateşyan served as acting patriarch even though Mesrob II officially held the title.

Turkey’s Armenian community have suffered heavy persecution throughout the centuries. Most fled Turkey during the Armenian genocide of 1915-1917. By the time the modern Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, most Armenians had disappeared from the country. Although modern Turkey purports to be a secular nation, Armenians continue to suffer heavy harassment and discrimination.

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