Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan of Constantinople
Encyclopedia
Archbishop Mesrob II Mutafyan, also known as Mesrop Mutafyan, (June 16, 1956, Istanbul
, Turkey
) is the 84th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
. The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
is one of the four Sees of Armenian Orthodox Church (the other three being Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
, the Holy See of Cilicia and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
) and has an autocephalous
status, accepting, on the other hand, spiritual supremacy of the Catholicos of Armenia and of all Armenians in Holy Echmiadzin.
Mesrob Mutafyan graduated from the American High School in Kornwestheim
near Stuttgart
, Germany
. From 1974 to 1979, he studied philosophy
and sociology
in Memphis, Tennessee
, United States
.
On May 13, 1979, he was ordained to priesthood and was commissioned pastor
of Kınalıada
, one of the Prince's Islands in the Sea of Marmara
in İstanbul with a small Armenian
community. Between 1979 and 1981, he continued his theological studies in Jerusalem.
On September 21, 1986, Mesrob Mutafyan was elevated to the rank of a Bishop
in Echmiadzin
, Armenia
. From 1982 to 1990, he coordinated the ecumenic
al relationships of the Patriarchate. He attended the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, Italy in 1988/1989.
In 1993, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop
to serve the diocese
of Prince's Islands. From 1997, Mutafyan acted as the vicar general
of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
.
Following the death of Patriarch Karekin II Kazanjian of Constantinople
, Mesrob Mutafyan was elected locum tenens on March 16, 1998 to serve as the temporary leader of the Church until an election is held. Even though the Turkish local authorities demanded Archbishop of Üsküdar
Şahan Sıvaciyan, the retired longest-serving archbishop, should succeed, Mesrob Mutafyan was finally elected the 84th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople on October 14, 1998 and could take office. During his apostolic journey to Turkey, Pope Benedict XVI
visited also the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church in Kumkapı
, İstanbul, where he attended a religious ceremony and held later talks with Patriarch Mesrob II on November 30, 2006.
and has since withdrawn from all his duties and from public life; however he still officially remains patriarch and archbishop. Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, who is from Diyarbakır
, is running the day-to-day affairs of the Patriarchate after being appointed as Patriarchal Vicar of Constantinople with 25 of the 26 members of the Religious Council voting for him and awaiting the official election of a new Patriarch. But there has been public dissent about his temporary appointment including mass resignation of the acting Finance Committee of the Patriarchate. An official communiqué confirmed on January 14, 2011 that the Patriarch was suffering from Frontal temporal degenerative dementia, and that his physical and mental situation had deteriorated very rapidly.
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) is the 84th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople also known as Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul is today head of The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople , one of the smallest Patriarchates of the Oriental Orthodox Church but one that has exerted a very significant political role and today still exercises...
. The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople , one of the smallest Patriarchates of the Oriental Orthodox Church but one that has exerted a very significant political role and today still exercises a spiritual authority....
is one of the four Sees of Armenian Orthodox Church (the other three being Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Church and the Pontifical Residence of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians....
, the Holy See of Cilicia and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem also known as the Armenian Patriarchate of St. James is located in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem remains under the authority of the Catholicos of Armenia and of all Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
) and has an autocephalous
Autocephaly
Autocephaly , in hierarchical Christian churches and especially Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, is the status of a hierarchical church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop...
status, accepting, on the other hand, spiritual supremacy of the Catholicos of Armenia and of all Armenians in Holy Echmiadzin.
Mesrob Mutafyan graduated from the American High School in Kornwestheim
Kornwestheim
Kornwestheim is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated about 10 km north of Stuttgart, and 5 km south of Ludwigsburg.-Entertainment:...
near Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. From 1974 to 1979, he studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
On May 13, 1979, he was ordained to priesthood and was commissioned pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Kınalıada
Kinaliada
Kınalıada is an island in the Sea of Marmara; it is the closest of the Princes' Islands to Istanbul, Turkey, about south. Administratively, it is a neighbourhood in the Adalar district of Istanbul....
, one of the Prince's Islands in the Sea of Marmara
Sea of Marmara
The Sea of Marmara , also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, and in the context of classical antiquity as the Propontis , is the inland sea that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, thus separating Turkey's Asian and European parts. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Black...
in İstanbul with a small Armenian
Armenians in Turkey
Armenians in Turkey have an estimated population of 40,000 to 70,000 . Most are concentrated around Istanbul. The Armenians support their own newspapers and schools...
community. Between 1979 and 1981, he continued his theological studies in Jerusalem.
On September 21, 1986, Mesrob Mutafyan was elevated to the rank of a Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church....
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. From 1982 to 1990, he coordinated the ecumenic
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
al relationships of the Patriarchate. He attended the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, Italy in 1988/1989.
In 1993, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
to serve the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Prince's Islands. From 1997, Mutafyan acted as the vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople , one of the smallest Patriarchates of the Oriental Orthodox Church but one that has exerted a very significant political role and today still exercises a spiritual authority....
.
Following the death of Patriarch Karekin II Kazanjian of Constantinople
Patriarch Karekin II Kazanjian of Constantinople
Archbishop Karekin II Kazanjian, was the 83rd Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople under the authority of the Catholicos of Armenia and of all Armenians....
, Mesrob Mutafyan was elected locum tenens on March 16, 1998 to serve as the temporary leader of the Church until an election is held. Even though the Turkish local authorities demanded Archbishop of Üsküdar
Üsküdar
Üsküdar is a large and densely populated municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, on the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus. It is bordered on the north by Beykoz, on the east by Ümraniye, on the southeast by Ataşehir, on the south by Kadıköy, and on the west by the Bosphorus, with the areas of Beşiktaş,...
Şahan Sıvaciyan, the retired longest-serving archbishop, should succeed, Mesrob Mutafyan was finally elected the 84th Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople on October 14, 1998 and could take office. During his apostolic journey to Turkey, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
visited also the Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church in Kumkapı
Kumkapi
Kumkapı is part of the Fatih district of Istanbul. It is located along the Marmara Sea. Up to recent times, Kumkapı was mostly inhabited by Armenians, who still have a community school and several churches there. It is also the seat of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople...
, İstanbul, where he attended a religious ceremony and held later talks with Patriarch Mesrob II on November 30, 2006.
Illness
In July 2008, it was announced that Mesrob Mutafyan was suffering from Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and has since withdrawn from all his duties and from public life; however he still officially remains patriarch and archbishop. Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, who is from Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
, is running the day-to-day affairs of the Patriarchate after being appointed as Patriarchal Vicar of Constantinople with 25 of the 26 members of the Religious Council voting for him and awaiting the official election of a new Patriarch. But there has been public dissent about his temporary appointment including mass resignation of the acting Finance Committee of the Patriarchate. An official communiqué confirmed on January 14, 2011 that the Patriarch was suffering from Frontal temporal degenerative dementia, and that his physical and mental situation had deteriorated very rapidly.