No Need to Sabotage the Gathering of the Council Abroad with Baseless Arguments - Mother See

On January 21, a statement was issued on behalf of the self-proclaimed coordinating council of the so-called reform movement of the Armenian Church, which once again distorts the facts and attempts to mislead our faithful people. This is stated in a statement released by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

“The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin deeply regrets the anti-church campaign and the divisive course adopted by the co-episcopates of ten bishops involved in it. The reality is that the bishops associated with the initiative of the Prime Minister of Armenia have left the appeals and invitations from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin unanswered and ignored the proposals to return to the canonical field and discuss issues in ecclesiastical courts. At the same time, neither in the past nor, even more so, today, have the mentioned bishops pointed out any realistic ways to regulate the relations between the Church and the authorities; on the contrary, attempts continue under obvious influence to resolve issues through non-canonical and condemnable means.

It is unacceptable to question the legitimacy of ecclesiastical bodies, in whose activities many of these bishops have participated for decades, making decisions and assuming responsibility related to the Church's operations. Clarifications on this matter have already been officially provided,” the statement reads.

“One of the ways to overcome the created worrying situation is indicated as follows: ‘The gathering of the invited Episcopal Council, the legitimacy of which is not conditioned in any way by the place of gathering. The most important issues affecting ecclesiastical life, including the issues raised, must be discussed and appropriate solutions found in ecclesiastical collective bodies.’ There is no need to form biased opinions and attempt to undermine the gathering abroad with groundless arguments and false accusations, when various pressures on ecclesiastical life in Armenia are apparent. Reformation and empowerment of ecclesiastical life is a continuous process that requires prayerful unity, sustained and unified work, and commitment. Faithful to its God-given mission, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, both in the past and today, will continue its efforts to strengthen the independence of the Armenian statehood, and to ensure the peaceful, prosperous, and progressive life of our people,” the statement concludes.

Earlier, we reported that bishops and archbishops who joined the coordinating council formed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the purpose of Church reform have also issued a statement.