Mother See Responds to Statement Signed by Prime Minister and Ten Bishops

In the evening yesterday, in connection with the statement signed by the Prime Minister and ten bishops, we find it necessary to emphasize the following. The Mother See has issued a statement:

“a. The actions undertaken by the Prime Minister of Armenia under the pretext of regulating and reforming the internal life of the Church directly violate the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and infringe upon the rights of the Church, which are enshrined both internationally and in Armenian legislation.

b. The involvement of bishops in such anti-church processes, as well as the pressure exerted on the priestly class, is condemnable. Discussions regarding issues related to the life of the Church are carried out exclusively within the relevant ecclesiastical bodies, in accordance with canonical regulations. It is perplexing that the mentioned ten bishops have, so far, not responded in any way to the calls and invitations directed to them by the Mother See and continue to avoid meetings and discussions regarding the issues that concern them with His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Supreme Spiritual Council.

c. It should be emphasized that issues related to the regulation and reform of the Church are not under the authority of a self-proclaimed council but belong to the Apostolic Holy Church of Armenia, with its highest governing bodies.

d. Such thoughtless steps could lead to a schism with painful consequences,” the statement reads.

Let us recall that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan published a statement on his Facebook page regarding the reform of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.