Bishops to Hold Gathering at Mother See to Demand Rest for Karekin II

A group of bishops from the Armenian Apostolic Church, which recently met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has issued a new statement declaring: "Beloved brother ministers, faithful and believing people. Recent dangerous developments surrounding our Holy Apostolic Church have raised numerous concerns that we have expressed both in our personal conversations with His Holiness the Catholicos and collectively as well as in the public domain. These developments have crossed the line that could inflict irreparable harm on our Church, the State, and the faithful people.

The discussions regarding these concerns, in essence, have been directed by His Holiness Karekin II and have not served to resolve pressing issues, further demonstrating the unilateral, arbitrary, and flawed administration of Karekin II over the years. It is time for us, the spiritual class, and the faithful to be sincere with each other and to admit that throughout these past years, our voice has not only been unheard within the Church, but we have also not had any significant, decisive influence on the fulfillment of the Church's mission.

Therefore, it is time that for the sake of our beloved Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as for the Armenian Apostolic Church and our faithful people worldwide, we express a clear and resolute stance on the problems facing our Church. We must not be constrained by various difficulties and pressures, and for the love of God, we must confront the increasingly growing decadence of the Mother See.

The current deplorable state of the Mother Church poses a threat to our national and state security interests. Before history, each of us is responsible for the decisions we have made and the actions we have taken. We are calling on our spiritual brothers and our devoted people, both in Armenia and in the Diaspora, to demonstrate united will, to join us, and to raise your rightful voice of protest against this destructive and anti-canonical course that is deliberately leading to the obliteration of the Church's reputation and authority, entirely rejecting all efforts and attempts to serve the interests of foreign powers with the Armenian Church.

Dear spiritual brothers and faithful people of the Armenians: on December 18 this year, at 17:00, let us gather and unite at the religious center of all Armenians, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to DEMAND REST for His Holiness Karekin II, which has become an urgent necessity. May Almighty God bless our national mission and make the long-cherished dreams and wishes of spiritual servants and believers a reality."