The Catholicos’ decrees have legal force for the Armenian Apostolic Church


The basis for the defrocking of Bishop Gevorg Saroyan was the transgressions of the former bishop. The Catholicos’ decrees are a source of church law, along with the rules of the ecumenical and local councils, as well as the canons. That is, the decisions of the Catholicos are binding on the entire church. Only he can anoint the myron. Only by his hands are bishops ordained. He convenes church councils, appoints or confirms diocesan leaders. He also has the right to punish transgressing clergy.
 

The New Rituals of the Armenian Church


In the fourth century, during the patriarchate of Karekin II, the ritual life of the Armenian Church was enriched. Under the direction of His Holiness, new orders and ceremonies were established in the church calendar. They gradually became an integral part of church life. Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, by establishing new orders of spiritual worship, continues the work of the patriarchs of the Armenian Church.

The Mother See Expresses Its Support for the Hostages of Artsakh’s State Figures


The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has responded to the illegal trial being held in Baku and the court’s verdict, which sentenced Artsakh’s military and political figures to life or long-term imprisonment. The Mother See has reaffirmed its commitment to consistently exert efforts through its structures around the world on international and inter-church platforms to secure the release of the captured Armenians and their return to their homeland.
 

Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I addressed the US Vice President regarding the issue of prisoners held in Baku


Aram I reminded James Vance that international law clearly emphasizes the importance of releasing prisoners of war and protecting spiritual and cultural monuments. The Catholicosate of Cilicia reported that the letter has already been delivered to the US Vice President. James Vance will visit Armenia and Azerbaijan next week.

Defrocked Arman Saroyan Sues Mother See and Fails to Appear in Court


Former Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese, defrocked Arman Saroyan, has filed a lawsuit against the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, demanding that the Patriarchal Decree of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II on his dismissal from the position of Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese be declared invalid and that he be reinstated in his position. The Mother See’s lawyer emphasized that a secular court and judge cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the church, as this is enshrined in the state law of Armenia, as well as in the norms of international law. Therefore, such a dispute is not subject to examination in court in a civil proceeding.

 

Georgian Armenians hold rally in support of Armenian Apostolic Church


The Armenian community in Georgia has stated that when clergymen speak out, they are met with humiliation and arrest. When the Catholicos of All Armenians defends the cultural heritage of Artsakh on international platforms, he is accused of revanchism. Georgian Armenians believe that this is not a coincidence, but a deliberate policy to weaken the collective resistance of the Armenian people and devalue the essence of the nation-state.
 

Los Angeles Armenian Community Holds Protest in Defense of Mother See


Representatives of the Los Angeles Armenian community held a protest outside the Burbank Prelacy of Saints Ghevondians Church in defense of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Patriarch of All Armenians, as well as against Archbishop Hovnan Terterian, the Primate of the Armenian Western Diocese of the United States. They demanded answers from the Primate of the Diocese and the Diocesan Council for siding with those persecuting the Church.
 

Clergymen under ban from absenteeism to participate in the Bishops’ Assembly remotely


At the invitation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, the Bishops’ Assembly will be held in the Austrian city of Sankt Pölten on February 16-19. The authorities have imposed a ban on six bishops and an archbishop, members of the Supreme Spiritual Council, from being absent from the country. Remote participation cannot pose a problem in terms of legitimacy and challenging the decisions made.

Diaspora Leaders Call on All Armenians to Protect Armenian Apostolic Church


Armenian Diaspora leaders have written an open letter to the Armenian government warning that the government’s persecution of the church is risking severing ties with the Diaspora and the global community. They say the continued attacks on church leaders and threats of the forced removal of its leader are a direct threat to all Armenians around the world. The letter was signed by Noubar Afeyan, Anthony Barsamyan, Lord Ara Darzi, Eric Esrayelyan, Vache Manukyan, Joseph Ughurlyan and Perch Sedrakyan. They call on all Armenians in the Diaspora to raise their collective voices and demand the realization of their right to practice their religion in a self-reforming church free from political interference.

Armenia was the last country where one could imagine an imprisoned archbishop. Joel Veldkamp


A religious media outlet published an article titled “Visiting an Armenian Archbishop in Prison” by Joel Veldkamp, ​​the public outreach director for Christian Solidarity International. The international observer describes his visit to Armenia as part of a group working to protect the rights of persecuted Christians and his meeting with Archbishop Bagrat in prison. He noted in the article that Pashinyan has resorted to old Soviet methods. He has assembled a group of rebel bishops who are calling for “reform” of the church, much as the Bolsheviks used a group of “free church” clergy in the 1920s to foment division.
 

International expert examination of videos attributed to Archbishop Arshak ready


The Archbishop’s lawyer, Arsen Babayan, wrote that in November of last year, he sent the videos for international examination to determine their authenticity. Expert opinions from three different countries confirm the Archbishop’s claim that he had nothing to do with the content of the videos.
 

The Pope of Rome made a special reference to the tradition of the Armenian Church at St. Paul's Cathedral


The Holy Father, during the closing ceremony of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, announced that this year’s prayers have been prepared by the Churches of Armenia. He believes that they are a testimony to the courageous Christian faith that the Armenian people have demonstrated throughout their history. The Pope emphasized that Armenia, as the first Christian nation, very early accepted the Gospel, thanks to the fearless preachers of the Word of Salvation. From that country, the faith spread to the East and the West, becoming a seed of unity and peace.