Bishop Sahak Mashalian has been elected Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The Patriarchate initiated elections of the new Patriarch after Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan passed away on March 8 following a long illness.
The Turkish government insisted that Armenians first elect a Locum Tenens, who will manage the activity of the Patriarchate in the transition period before a Patriarch is elected.