‘Gross violation of canons’ – clergy statement regarding liturgy in Ararat

Several clergymen of the Armenian Apostolic Church criticized parish priest Yervand Babayan, who on November 23 during the Holy Liturgy at the Surb Hakob Church in the village of Ararat deliberately did not pronounce the name of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. The service was attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who had earlier announced a campaign to “liberate” the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin from the Catholicos. The priests described Babayan’s refusal to mention the head of the Armenian Church as a gross violation of the Church’s Holy Canons.

“Faithfulness, love, and devotion to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin must be an unbreakable vow for a priest. Violation of the canonical, theological, and dogmatic prescriptions of the Church is reprehensible,” noted Yeprem Harutyunyan, parish priest of the St. Hovhannes Church in the village of Mkhchyan.

Fr. Tiran Nahapetyan expressed hope that Babayan would realize the seriousness of his behavior, understand the concern of the clergy and the faithful, and sincerely repent.

The criticism was also joined by Rev. Fr. Mikael Nurijanyan, parish priest of Surb Hakob Church in Mrgavan; Artsrun Mikaelyan, spiritual pastor of Surb Amenaprkich Church in the town of Ararat; and Abram Martirosyan, parish priest of the Holy Mother of God Church in Dashtavan.