Dismissed priest Aramayis Takhmazyan questioned at court hearing in Bishop Mkrtich case


Former clergyman Aramayis Takhmazyan stated in court that in 2023 he and several clergymen were forced to participate in rallies organized by the opposition. According to him, he participated so that he would not receive a reprimand in the future or the attitude towards him would not change. The dismissed priest confirmed that they were simply present at the rallies, they did not make any calls, they did not direct people to any action. He avoided answering the defense attorneys' question about whether the presence of the clergymen had a restraining or pacifying effect on the participants at the rallies or not.
 

Court of Appeals Overturns House Arrest and Restrictions on Archbishop Michael


The Court of Appeals overturned the verdict of the first instance court on the grounds of violation of the rules of jurisdiction. The court noted that the case was heard in a court without jurisdiction or that there was a significant procedural violation regarding jurisdiction. The proceedings will be transferred to the Shirak Region Court of First Instance for a new hearing. This does not mean that the Court of Appeals has examined the issue of guilt or innocence. The decision concerns the procedural issue of which court had jurisdiction to hear the case.
 

Gevorgyan Theological Seminary Entrance Exams Have Begun


The Gevorgyan Theological Seminary's entrance exams for the 2026-27 academic year began on June 13. The second round of the seminary's entrance exams is in August. The 150-year-old seminary has been revitalized by the efforts of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. Since 2016, the seminary has been providing three-level education: a 4-year bachelor's degree, a 2-year master's degree, and a 3-year postgraduate degree. Graduates have the opportunity to continue their studies at prestigious educational institutions around the world.

 

The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the most trusted institutions in Armenia


According to the results of periodic sociological surveys conducted by the “Arar” Civilization Research Foundation since 2023, the most trusted institutions are the Armed Forces with an index of 69.6 percent and the Armenian Apostolic Church with an index of 65.3 percent. The director of the foundation, Armen Khachikyan, summarized the results of the research of “Arar” and other international institutions in the collection entitled “The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in the Conditions of Modern Transformations”. The work was published with the author’s editing and initiative of Father Ararat Poghosyan, director of the Tamar and Vache Manukyan Matenadaran of the Mother See.
 

The Court of Appeals has considered the issue of changing the preventive measure of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan


The lawyers have petitioned to lift the preventive measure of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the leader of the Shirak diocese, which is house arrest. The defense side emphasized that Archbishop Mikayel has been in prison for a year, while the intended sentence is two years, meaning that the bishop has already served half of it. The court decided to postpone the consideration of the petition and address it in the final court session. The next session is scheduled for June 17.
 

The Mother Cathedral Museum participated in the pan-European program “Night of Museums”


The Mother Cathedral Museum exhibited the highest order of the Armenian Apostolic Church, “Holy Etchmiadzin”, in the center of which is depicted the spiritual center of Armenia, Gregory the Illuminator, with a halo and a cross-shaped staff. Next to him is King Trdat, and above are the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus. The order was established in 2024. The orders “Daughter of Holy Etchmiadzin” and “Knight of Holy Etchmiadzin” were also presented.
 

Master's thesis defense held at Gevorgyan Theological Seminary


Three seminarians presented their thesis: Deacon Armen Mkrtchyan, Deacon Alik Harutyunyan, and Deacon Arsen Martirosyan. Deacon Armen tried to present the preaching significance and content of all ritual ceremonies, particularly the Holy Liturgy. Deacon Alik Harutyunyan's work, through the analysis of historical data, counteracts the Azerbaijani narratives that Artsakh is an Udyan, Azerbaijani territory.
 

Bishop Mkrtich’s Case Has Political Overtones: Defense


During the court hearing in the case of the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, and the spiritual pastor of the Mughni parish, Father Garegin Arsenyan, at the Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of the Aragatsotn Region, the defense side stated that the case has a political overtones. The defense side noted that the only source of evidence in the case to date is the injured party, the defrocked clergymen Aramayis Takhmazyan and Stepan Asatryan.
 

Catholicos of All Armenians Speaks to Priestly Assembly About the Situation Around the Church


About 200 clergy serving in the dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church - priests, deacons, archpriests, diocesan leaders, and members of the Mother See - participated in a priestly assembly at the Mother Cathedral on May 26. Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the chairman of the organizing committee for priestly assemblies for 20 years, did not participate because he is under house arrest. The meeting was attended by the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, who is under administrative supervision. This year, the priestly assembly was held in the absence of high-ranking clergy and a group of priests who joined the anti-church campaign. The Armenian Patriarch spoke with the priests about the worrying developments around the Church and the persecutions being carried out against clergy.

On the occasion of the Republic Day, the Catholicos of All Armenians visited the Sardarapat Memorial Complex


His Holiness, accompanied by the Brotherhood of the Mother See, paid tribute to the memory of the brave Armenians who died in the May heroic battles. The Patriarch laid a wreath in front of the monument, then prayed for the repose of the souls of the defenders of the homeland. In his message, the Catholicos of All Armenians called for unity and joint strengthening of our state in the face of external and internal challenges in the current difficult times, making the life of all Armenians prosperous and beautiful.

 

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Aragatsotn Diocese


The 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Aragatsotn Diocese was celebrated in the St. Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan without the presence of the leader. Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan has been in prison on a trumped-up case since October 2025, he is currently under administrative control, and his contact with the clergy of the diocese is limited. The duties and powers of the leader are reserved for the diocesan council, chaired by Father Shnorhk Paloyan. During the Divine Liturgy, Father Mkrtich Yeranyan, the spiritual pastor of the St. Sargis Church in Ashtarak, read the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diocese.
 

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the feast of the St. Gayane Virgins


A procession of clergy led by the Armenian Patriarch moved from the Mother Cathedral to the Saint Gayane Monastery. Every year on the day of the saint's commemoration, the right-shaped relic of Saint Gayane is brought out to distribute blessings to the faithful. During Araratian Week, the relics of Saint John the Baptist and Bishop Atanagin will be taken from the Mother See to the Shoghakat Monastery, and the day of the monastery's consecration will also be celebrated.