During a closed-door meeting at Constantinople Patriarchate, Garegin Beckchyan was elected Patriarchal Vicar.
During a closed-door meeting at Constantinople Patriarchate, Garegin Beckchyan was elected Patriarchal Vicar. Prior to voting, Sahak Mashalyan out of the three candidates withdrew his candidacy in favor of Beckchyan.
34 clergymen voted in favor of Beckchyan, while Aram Ateshyan received 11 votes.
However, things took an unexpected turn: following Vicar’s election, Istanbul authorities disseminated an official letter denying the conduction of election and considering it invalid, saying the latter could lead to division of Armenian community in Constantinople.