Bishop Gevorg Saroyan defrocked
Today, Karekin II, following the decision of the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting, has defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan by pontifical decree.
The grounds for the defrocking specifically note the fact that Bishop Gevorg Saroyan contested the decree regarding his dismissal from the post of Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn and his return to the Mother See, thereby obstructing the normal activities of the diocese.
Furthermore, according to the Mother See, the lawsuit he filed created the occasion and conditions for relevant state authorities to interfere in the internal processes of church life.
It is also mentioned that Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, through canonical deviations and disciplinary violations, has broken the clergyman’s vow of obedience.
Following the pontifical decree of defrocking, he will no longer be considered a clergyman and will be ranked among the laity under the name Arman Saroyan.
As a reminder, earlier, by the decree of Karekin II, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan was dismissed from the post of Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn. He had filed a lawsuit against the Church, demanding to invalidate his dismissal as Primate of the diocese and to reinstate him to his position as Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn.