Authorities insult feelings of believers and sow division – Holy Etchmiadzin

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strictly condemns the actions of the authorities led by the Prime Minister, accompanied by the forceful intervention of law enforcement bodies, gross violations of church canons, as well as the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia, which insult the spiritual feelings of believers and sow division during the organization of liturgies in various dioceses.

Bypassing the spiritual authority of the diocesan primate and disregarding the established church order makes the participation of any bishop in such liturgies a grave canonical violation. Such a violation occurred in the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God (“Seven Wounds”) of the Shirak Diocese.

While refraining for now from applying strict measures, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin calls upon the bishops who have violated the canons to cease their misguided behavior and public statements filled with false and fabricated content, to return to the canonical path, to follow the centuries‑old traditions of our Holy Church, to act solely within the spiritual sphere, and with a high awareness of the need to preserve legality and unity. This is the duty, vocation, and mission of a bishop as a servant endowed with apostolic succession.