Joint Prayer of the Diocese of Aragatsotn to be Held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; Crisis Around the Church Reaches a Climax
The joint prayer of the clergy of the Diocese of Aragatsotn, which was scheduled to be held at St. Hovhannes Church in Byurakan on December 18, has been moved to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The Diocese of Aragatsotn reported this, noting that the service will be held at 17:00.
The change of the prayer venue takes place amid deepening internal tensions within the Armenian Apostolic Church. Hours before this announcement, a group of bishops who had met with Nikol Pashinyan issued a public statement demanding a gathering at the Mother See on December 18 to call for the “retirement” of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The statement uses harsh language to address the management of the Church and its course in recent years, characterizing it as closed, unilateral, and in a state of crisis.
“The current deplorable state of the Mother Church also poses a threat to our national and state security interests. Each of us is responsible before history for the decisions we make and the actions we take,” the statement reads.
At the same time, following the announcement, citizens with opposing views have become active on social media, calling for people to come to the Mother See on the same day in support of the Catholicos and the current management of the Church.
It is recalled that following the detention of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, Leader of the Diocese of Aragatsotn, the clergy of the diocese have been organizing joint services every Thursday, praying for the clergy in confinement, imprisoned and captured Armenians, as well as for the steadfastness of the Armenian Church.