Archbishop Hovnan must either take right stand or be removed – protest in Burbank

A protest was held in Burbank, California, against Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, leader of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and in support of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

According to participants, Archbishop Hovnan has aligned himself with Nikol Pashinyan’s initiative for “church reform.”

“I don’t even want to call him ‘Archbishop,’ because the archbishops who truly stand on national foundations are political prisoners today. Today, Hovnan is a traitor; he is betraying his roots and his Apostolic Church. Even the diocesan building doesn’t bear the word ‘Apostolic,’” one protester said.

Members of the Armenian-American community stated that the diocesan leader has violated church order. “We say there must be peace in the church, but if the leader himself breaks the order, how can there be peace? The people demand that he either take the right stand or be removed,” another participant emphasized.