We sincerely hope that the Armenian police will reconsider their actions – Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem

It was with deep pain and concern that we learned yesterday, on the day of the celebration of the 106th anniversary of the first Republic of Armenia and the heroic Battle of Sardarapat, about a shameful and highly reprehensible reality that has no precedent in the entire history of the Republic of Armenia, Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, said in a statement.

“During the heroic Battle of Sardarapat, in those fateful days for the Armenian people, the clergy fought with a cross in one hand and a weapon in the other, along with soldiers, commanders, peasants, and builders. In those fateful days, the military leadership demanded to move the Catholicos of All Armenians Gevorg V Surenyants to a safer place, and Aram Manukyan was offered to leave the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for safety reasons and take refuge in Sevan. They tried their best to ensure the safety of the Armenian Patriarch and protect him from possible enemy attack.

Today, 106 years later, the police of the Republic of Armenia not only failed to ensure the safety of the Patriarch of All Armenians, but also, showing a reprehensible attitude and forming several barriers, attempted to prevent Patriarch of All Armenians Karekin II and the clergy accompanying him from entering the Sardarapat Memorial. On behalf of the Military Congregation of St. Hagop, we strongly condemn the shameful and dishonorable behavior of the Armenian police towards the Patriarch of All Armenians.

We sincerely hope that the Armenian police will reconsider their actions and attitude towards the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Patriarch of All Armenians to avoid such incidents in the future,” the statement reads.