Mother See Responds to the Divine Liturgy Controversy

The Mother See strongly condemns the actions of the authorities, led by the Prime Minister, involving forceful interventions by law enforcement agencies, which grossly violate ecclesiastical order, as well as the Constitution and legislation of the Republic of Armenia, offending the spiritual sentiments of believers and sowing division through the organization of Divine Liturgy ceremonies in various dioceses. This was reported by the Mother See.

“The participation of any bishop in the Divine Liturgies, bypassing the spiritual authority of the diocesan primate and disregarding the perceived ecclesiastical order, is a gross violation of the canon. This occurred at the Mother Cathedral of the Shirak Diocese of St. Mary (Seven Wounds). Still refraining from applying strict measures, the Mother See urges the canon-violating bishops to cease their misguided actions and public speeches filled with false and fabricated content, to return to the canonical realm by adhering to the traditions of our Holy Church established over the centuries, to operate exclusively in the spiritual domain with a high awareness of legality and unity, which is the duty, calling, and mission of a bishop as an apostolic successor,” the statement reads.