Priests of Masyatsotn diocese issue joint statement
Nineteen clergymen of the Masyatsotn Diocese have issued a statement, noting that the change of the diocesan leader was not the result of any coercion or pressure exerted upon the priests.
“Standing before our conscience and responsibility, we presented the true character of the former leader to the Supreme Patriarch. Today, looking back at the Supreme Patriarch’s decision to change the leader, we—priests and believers—clearly and tangibly feel the breath of freedom and spiritual joy soaring in the diocese, which the former leader is attempting to take away from us through uncanonical and unconstitutional means.”
It should be noted that by the pontifical decree of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the leader of the Masyatsotn Diocese, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, was dismissed from his post on January 10. He was defrocked on January 27 for challenging the decision in court and for disobedience to the order. By pontifical decree, Very Reverend Father Ruben Zargaryan was appointed Vicar of the Diocese.
In the statement, the clergy also addressed the public claims made by the former leader, Arman Saroyan, stating that they are misinformation and offensive in nature. They noted that during Arman Saroyan’s years of leadership, in their assessment, an atmosphere of fear, threats, and uncertainty prevailed in the diocese, along with social issues.
It is mentioned that frequent and arbitrary changes in the priests’ places of service by the former head of the diocese negatively affected the quality of service and the psychological stability of their families.
As a reminder, on January 4, 2026, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and ten bishops demanding the removal of the Catholicos announced the launch of a “reformation” process for the Armenian Apostolic Church.
On February 14, the Prosecutor’s Office initiated criminal prosecution against Karekin II on charges of obstructing the execution of a judicial act regarding the former leader of the Masyatsotn Diocese and restricted his departure from Armenia. A group of clergymen is also involved in the same case.
