Priests of the diocese of Masyatsotn under pressure to join former leader
A number of priests of the Diocese of Masyatsotn are being directed and pressured to join the former leader, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan. This was reported by the official page of the Diocese.
According to the statement, various individuals, including municipal employees and influential persons, have attempted to persuade the priests to join the former leader through friendly exhortations, offers of better service conditions, and threats. In several cases, demands were made to vacate the churches, presented as a decision made by Bishop Gevorg.
According to the alert, in some instances, priests were required to vacate their churches, with the demand presented as Bishop Gevorg’s decision. The priests have not yielded to the exhortations, offers, or pressure.
It is noted that the most severe threats were addressed to the priests of the Ararat and Vedi regions.
It should be noted that confrontations between the Church and the authorities have continued recently. The government is demanding the resignation of the Catholicos. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the “Sacred Struggle” movement, Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, leader of the Diocese of Shirak, Bishop Mkrtich, leader of the Diocese of Aragatsotn, and Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See, are currently behind bars.
Bishop Gevorg Saroyan had been defrocked on January 10, after which he appealed to the court and was reinstated in his position.