Clarification on the Catholicos' New Year's Message

It has been announced through the public television's New Year programming schedule that the New Year's message of the Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians is set to be broadcast on December 31 at 21:55. However, yesterday, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin declared that, under the current operational approach of the television station, it is not appropriate for the Catholicos' message to be broadcast on Public TV.

"We feel it is necessary to mention that there has been no discussion between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Public TV regarding the broadcasting of the message. The television station continues to bypass the long-standing tradition of broadcasting the New Year's messages of the Catholicos, ignoring the Mother See's position and the demands and expectations of the faithful residing in Armenia and the diaspora," the announcement stated.

Aysor.am has reached out to Public TV regarding this issue, asking for clarification on how the hour was determined and why no discussions took place with the Mother See.

The television station stated that the Catholicos' speech is scheduled to be broadcast at a time reserved for official messages, immediately after the main news broadcast, when messages from the President of Armenia and the Speaker of the National Assembly will also be aired.

"There is no legislative regulation regarding the broadcasting of New Year's messages; each broadcaster decides when and in what order to air the messages. This year, as in the previous year, Public TV has chosen to broadcast the messages based on the same principle," stated the Public Television of Armenia.