Clergyman Deprived of Office for Inappropriate Conduct

The Information Department of the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese has issued a statement regarding the recent rally in parliament following a transgender speech made at the National Assembly. It was noted that Father Ghazar Petrosyan had been deprived of his clerical status until Holy Week.

The statement reads:

“The Ararat Patriarchal Diocese expresses its concern regarding the increased propaganda of foreign values in recent times. The clergy of the Armenian Church have repeatedly stated that the Armenian Apostolic Church does not condemn any individual, believing that everyone has the opportunity to repent before God, receive forgiveness for their sins, and return to faith. However, the Church strictly condemns sin and the promotion of sin.

We regret to observe that the advancing slogans of immorality and perversion are further polarizing our people. In response to global challenges, we need to be more united and consolidated than ever in strengthening our statehood, guided by national and spiritual values.

Condemning all manifestations of perverse propaganda, we emphasize the importance of a prudent and civilized stance in fighting against it.

The Information Department of the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese reports that in recent days, due to the clergyman's inappropriate conduct and deviation from his pastoral mission, Father Ghazar Petrosyan, the spiritual shepherd of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Buraavan, has been declared deprived of his clerical status until Holy Week by the order of His Eminence Archbishop Navasar Kchoyan, the vicar of the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese, and is under the supervision of His Eminence Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, the diocesan spiritual overseer in the Ararat region.

Like all clergymen, Father Ghazar has the right to express his concerns regarding the promotion of immorality; however, making political statements and exhibiting conduct unbecoming of a citizen is unacceptable.

We urge our faithful people to unite around the mission of preserving national and spiritual values and to refrain from unnecessary and extreme manifestations for the benefit of our people and our statehood.”