
ArmInfo. In these challenging days for the Armenian Church—when anti-church actions are being undertaken in Armenia through the leverage of state mechanisms to revise centuries-old ecclesiastical order and canons, force the Catholicos of All Armenians to resign, and effectively subordinate the Church to political authorities—we resolutely declare that the autonomy of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, its canonical structure, and its internal life are not subject to the dictation of any political force or state organ, as stated in a joint declaration issued by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, following the annual assembly of the clergy held on May 26 under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
The Mother See called such actions an illegal and unconstitutional campaign that directly threatens national unity and social stability, dealing a serious blow to the foundations of Armenian statehood.
"At the same time, we consider the anti-canonical and blasphemous actions of defrocked individuals, carried out under state patronage, as extremely reprehensible, as well as the seizure and illegal use of monasteries, churches, church structures, and property. This is not only a gross violation of canonical order, but also a deliberate attempt to undermine church unity from within," the source stated.
The clergy noted with regret that some clergyman are becoming involved in these schismatic processes, becoming—wittingly or unwittingly—accomplices to anti-church actions. "We call on our brothers to reconsider their erroneous path and exclude any actions that violate church canons," the Mother See stated.
Any attempt to undermine the sovereignty of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, trample on church order, or diminish the God-given authority of the Catholicos of All Armenians, according to the statement, will meet with the firm and unwavering resistance of all believers and the church community.
"In the context of the upcoming elections and political processes in Armenia, we urge our faithful people to demonstrate a responsible attitude, refrain from lawlessness, hate speech, and the spread of disinformation, and to contribute to the strengthening of social harmony," the statement continued.