An assembly of ninety Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, Armenian Catholic and
Armenian Evangelical lay delegates convened in the Bezciyan Hall of the Holy
Mother-of-God Patriarchal Church in Kumkapi, Istanbul, on Tuesday, 30 January,
from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul and all Turkey, presided over the assembly. He was assisted by His
Grace Archbishop Shahan Sivaciyan (Patriarchal Vicar) and His Grace Bishop Aram
Ateshian (Chairman of the Religious Council), by the Reverend Members of the
Religious Council, and by the Revd. Dr. Krikor Damadyan (Chancellor) and the
Hieromonks of the Patriarchal See.
Mr. Krikor Doshemeciyan was elected to chair the proceedings, and Mr. Raffi
Bilalyan was elected secretary. The assembly then turned its attention to the
law promulgated by the French National Assembly on 18 January and to the
statements of some French parliamentarians which had been broadcast by a Turkish
TV channel on 25 January. Following deliberations, the Turkish Armenian Assembly
of Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical representatives, issued the following
declaration:
1) Recently, the members of the French National Assembly, debated the tragic
events of 1915, a matter best left to historians. The assembly then recorded
uncalled for remarks pertaining to the situation of Armenians living in Turkey.
2) As an earlier declaration has already communicated, individual Armenians
living in Turkey do not face economic, legal, social and religious problems.
Indeed, in religious life particularly, they enjoy total liberty. Some problems
related to their institutional life that the Armenian community do face, have
been brought to the attention of the competent authorities of the State by
responsible members of the community and solutions are expected. As is the case
for all citizen of the Republic of Turkey, the proper place for discussing
issues related to the Turkish citizens of Armenian descent is the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey, in Ankara. Therefore, we consider the patronizing
attitude of foreign parliaments useless for the Armenians of Turkey. Based on
the stipulations of the treaty of Lausanne, the Armenians of Turkey lead a
respectable life, with their five hundred and forty year old Patriarchal See,
two hospitals, fifty-seven churches, fifty-eight foundations, eighteen schools,
twenty-five choirs, seventeen associations, two sports clubs, three newspapers
and five magazines.
3) The interference of foreign parliaments, aiming to realize certain
international objectives, is regrettable and causes discomfort for us and for
all other Turkish citizens, with whom we share a common destiny in our country.
In the name of the Armenians in Turkey: (signed and sealed)
+Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey
Archbishop Shahan Sivaciyan, Patriarchal Vicar General
Bishop Aram Ateshian, Grand Ecclesiarch
Revd Dr Krikor Damadyan, Chancellor
Members of the Venerable Spiritual Council
Members of the Patriarchal Council of Lay Advisors
Board of Administrators, Surp Prgitch Armenian Hospital
Board of Administrators, Surp Agop Armenian Catholic Hospital
Parish Council, Patriarchal Church of the Holy Mother-of-God, Kumkapi
Parish Council, Holy Resurrection Church, Kumkapi
Parish Council, St George’s Church, Samatya
Parish Council, St John the Evangelist Church, Gedikpasha
Parish Council, St James Church, Altimermer
Parish Council, Sts Thaddeus and Bartholomew Church, Yenikapi
Parish Council, St John the Evangelist Church, Narlikapi
Parish Council, St Nicholas Church, Topkapi
Parish Council, St Mary’s Church, Bakirkoy
Parish Council, St Stephen’s Church, Yesilkoy
Parish Council, Holy Archangels Church, Balat
Parish Council, St Elijah Church, Eyup
Parish Council, St Mary’s Church, Eyup
Parish Council, St Stephen’s Church, Halicioglu
Parish Council, St Gregory the Illuminator Church, Galata
Parish Council, Holy Trinity Church, Balikpazari
Parish Council, Holy Resurrection Church, Taksim
Parish Council, St Vartan Church, Ferikoy
Parish Council, St Mary’s Church, Besiktas
Parish Council, St Mary’s Church, Ortakoy
Parish Council, Holy Cross Church, Kurucesme
Parish Council, Church of the Three Saints, Boyacikoy
Parish Council, St Mary’s Church, Yenikoy
Parish Council, St Rhipsime Church, Buyukdere
Parish Council, Church of Christ the King, Kadikoy
Parish Council, Holy Cross Church, Uskudar
Parish Council, Church of the Holy Forerunner, Uskudar
Parish Council, St Gregory the Illuminator Church, Kuzguncuk
Parish Council, Holy Apostles Church, Kandilli
Parish Council, St Nicholas Church, Beykoz
Parish Council, Holy Cross Church, Kartal
Parish Council, St Gregory the Illuminator Church, Kinaliada
Board of Administrators, Kalfayan Orphanage for Girls
Board of Administrators, Karagozyan Orphanage for Boys
Board of Administrators, Mkhitarist Fathers’ Catholic High School
Board of Administrators, Holy Cross High School in Uskudar
Board of Administrators, Esayan High School in Taksim
Board of Administrators, Sahakyan High School in Samatya
Board of Administrators, Getronagan High School in Galata
Board of Administrators, Dadyan Parish School in Bakirkoy
Board of Administrators, St Mesrob Parish School in Yesilkoy
Board of Administrators, Merametciyan Parish School in Ferikoy
Board of Administrators, Aramyan Parish School in Kadikoy
Board of Administrators, Vartuhyan Parish School in Topkapi
Board of Administrators, Tarkmancats Parish School in Ortakoy
Board of Administrators, Nersesyan Parish School in Uskudar
Yorumlar kapatıldı.