 The decision was taken to hold elections for a Locum Tenens on 15 March, followed by a patriarchal election within six months.On 15 March 2017, Patriarchate's Clerical Assembly elected Archbishop Karekin Bekdjian, the Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Germany as Locum tenens or Patriarchal alternate (Deghabah).But Archbishop Ateşyan refused to step down after the election of Bekdjian.