California Armenians launch petition to support Catholicos of All Armenians

In the Armenian community of the United States, believers have launched a large-scale petition against Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, head of the Western Diocese, and the pro-government faction surrounding him. According to the organizers, Derderian’s support for Nikol Pashinyan’s anti-church policies has divided the community; many are boycotting liturgies, leaving the church, or seeking priests who remain faithful to canonical order.

The petition aims to support the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians, condemning violations of hierarchical discipline within the church.

Community members Yunona Hagopjanian and Tigran Nikoghosyan report that Derderian’s inclusion in the so-called list of traitors has become a serious source of turmoil.

“The people see violations of hierarchy and church order. If clergymen break their vow of obedience to the Catholicos, what is an ordinary believer supposed to do?” note the members of the initiative.

According to them, hundreds of signatures have been collected in a short period of time.

Presenting the current situation, Yunona Hagopjanian said: “It was very painful to see people leaving the church and saying, ‘Sorry, but we will go to another church.’ They managed to divide people inside the country, and now they are trying to do the same in the church.”