Jerusalem Armenian Patriarch to have co-adjutor

For the first time within living memory, the Armenian church in Jerusalem is to have a co-adjutor Patriarch whose primary mission will be to assist the incumbent guardian of the keys of St James, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, in the administration of the affairs of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The measure, proposed by Manoogian himself, was put forward at one of the sessions of a four-day marathon conclave held in Jerusalem last week and attended by members of the priestly Brotherhood of St James.

Bowing to the wish of the ailing patriarch, who is in his 90's, the 28 participants of the 19th general assembly of the Brotherhood, who have all been ordained in Jerusalem (and of whom many are serving the church overseas), adopted a resolution to consider the issue of holding elections at an opportune time.

The need for a co-adjutor has become increasingly crucial recently in view of Manoogian's tenuous health which is creating difficulties for him and preventing him from attending to some of the myriad tasks his office requires, and at the same time giving cause for concern to those around him.