Residents of Martuni Prohibit Father Simon from Entering Church

The Gegharkunik Diocese has issued a statement concerning a disturbing incident in the Martuni community.

On December 11, a group of residents in the city of Martuni barred clergyman Father Simon Ter-Mkrtychyan from entering the church by closing the church door and verbally and physically assaulting him. The residents claimed that their actions were due to the priest's participation in a rally held in Yerevan on December 5, during which he allegedly made "political statements" in his sermons, among other grievances.

Immediately following the incident, Acting Primate His Grace Father Partev Barskyan visited the Martuni community and the St. Mother of God Church, where he met with the dissatisfied individuals, urging them to abstain from intolerance and insults, and to resolve the issue with Christian love and understanding, in a peaceful atmosphere.

The Holy Father deemed the incident unacceptable, considering the act of closing the church door and the insults directed towards the priest as inappropriate.

Following this meeting, the Acting Primate celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St. Mother of God Church in Martuni on Sunday, December 13, and later met again with the dissatisfied residents, emphasizing that the issue must be resolved within an atmosphere of love and peace in accordance with church regulations.

The statement outlined that if there are grievances against a clergyman in any community, especially regarding accusations of engaging in political activities, residents are required to submit a written, substantiated complaint to the diocesan bishop, who will present the matter to the appropriate church disciplinary body (Disciplinary Committee of the Armenian Church). After the investigation by the committee, a decision will be published, confirming or dismissing the accusations against the priest. Only upon confirmation of the accusations is the clergyman subject to disciplinary penalties.

Our church is guided by its regulations and not by street judgments or other approaches.

In light of the current political and post-war tensions in Armenia, we want to believe that the aforementioned incident is not organized or directed by anti-church or other forces.

We once again urge the residents of Martuni who are dissatisfied with the priest to gather around the church in an atmosphere of love and tolerance, showing respect and Christian consciousness so as not to disrupt the peaceful communal life.

Now more than ever, our people need to be united, to show mutual respect and love towards each other, to tolerate differing opinions, so that with the Lord's help and blessing, and in a spirit of harmony, it will be possible to overcome the difficult situation in our national life.

— Media Office of the Primate