The date for elections of co-ruler of Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople is not yet decided, bishop Sahak Mashalian told a news conference in Yerevan jointly held with Turkologist Tiran Lokmagozyan. According to him, the elections date is not scheduled since the permission by Turkish Ministry of Interior has not yet received.

"As soon as the permission received, the Armenian community will set a date for elections," the bishop said.

According to him, elections are delayed due to contradictions over this matter.

"We contacted Religious Committee asking for elections of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and received a positive response. In turn, Mundane Committee which was formed to organize the elections, applied with a new statement to get permission to hold the elections of the Patriarch," the bishop Sahak Mashalian said.

He recalled that the patriarch is elected for life, and nobody can replace him until he dies or renounces the throne. Since patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan is sick, he cannot make such a decision. "So, by relinquishing his title the Archbishop will not serve to his flock," the bishop said. Instead, a newly elected co-ruler of the Patriarch of Constantinople, in fact, will have the overall authority of Archbishop, but cannot be named the 85th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople until Mesrob Mutafyan is alive.

The Turkish government can resolve that issue in following ways: a new patriarch is elected, or co-ruler of the Patriarch of Constantinople is elected, or the election are not taking place until the parties do not reach a single decision. "Priests support elections of co-ruler of the Patriarch," the bishop Sahak Mashalyan said.