The Bells of Gyumri’s «Yot Verk» Church Remain Silent for the First Time in 200 Years
The bells of the Surb Yot Verk (Holy Seven Wounds) Primate’s See Church in Gyumri did not ring this morning; this is the first such instance in 200 years. This was reported in a video published on the Facebook page of Deacon Artashes Ajapahyan, a clergyman of the Shirak Diocese, who noted that the church bells were not silenced even during the years of Soviet repression.
Late yesterday evening, under the supervision of the NSS (National Security Service) head, the local priests sealed the Yot Verk Church and handed over the emptied building for a few hours. The Divine Liturgy was conducted by a clergyman brought in from elsewhere. Videos show that he is Father Ararat Ordoyan, a priest of Surb Sarkis Church.
“The church is surrounded on all sides by security forces, and the faithful people are not allowed to enter. Many residents of Gyumri start their day with prayer, but today they did not have the opportunity to enter the church,” said Deacon Artashes Ajapahyan.
According to him, the ritual life has been disrupted, and therefore, the bells did not ring because the morning service was not held.
A large number of security forces were brought to Gyumri early this morning. Also present are three Deputy Chiefs of Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Republic of Armenia: Vardan Vardanyan, Karen Hakobyan, Artur Khudinyan, as well as the Commander of the Police Guard, Hayk Babayan.
It should be recalled that this morning, 29 priests of the Shirak Diocese reaffirmed in a statement that they would not participate in a Liturgy where the name of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, would be neutralized (omitted). They emphasized that if anyone other than them performs the Liturgy in the Primate’s See Church, it will signify the “occupation” of Yot Verk.
The clergy, deacons, and choir of the Shirak Diocese conducted the Liturgy in the Surb Amenaprkich (Holy Savior) Church, located not far from Yot Verk.
After the Liturgy, the clergy of the Shirak Diocese intend to return to Yot Verk and, if necessary, perform a cleansing ritual.