Hovik Aghazaryan Will Not Attend the Consecration of the Mother Cathedral Due to Bagrat Serbazan

On September 28, a holy ceremony of Myron blessing will take place at the open sanctuary of St. Trdat, and the next day, on September 29, the Mother Cathedral will be reconsecrated. Yesterday, the Director of the Administrative and Economic Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Grace Bishop Mushegh Babayan, announced that invitations have been sent to authorities, and their presence is at their discretion.

ArmLur.am addressed several questions to Hovik Aghazaryan, a member of the Civil Contract faction, regarding this occasion.

- Mr. Aghazaryan, have you received an invitation to participate, and will you be going to the Mother See that day?

- To be honest, I haven't checked my mail yet, but even if I do get an invitation, I won't be going.

- Why not?

- I won't go because I don't find it appropriate. The reason is the dual nature of the church; on one hand, it attempts to create instability in the country through its servants, and on the other hand, it invites representatives of the government to participate in spiritual rites. I have my opinion on this matter, which is why I won't be attending, but again, I can’t say whether an invitation has come or not.

- So, you don't trust the Armenian Church?

- It's not the church that I don't trust, but rather the current servants of the church, of course, not all of them. We cannot leave the political stance of a clergyman and inappropriate language unanswered.

- Specifically, who are you referring to, Mr. Aghazaryan?

- Bagrat Galstanyan.

- So, is that the reason you decided not to participate in the spiritual ceremony?

- Well, what can I do? This is how I express my disagreement.