I am ashamed, I am in great pain


Opera singer Araks Mansuryan: “I am here and I do not believe that this has anything to do with reality. Where is our country? Is our Catholicos of All Armenians, before whom we bow every time we see him, in court today? Is this the reality? I am ashamed. When my foreign students ask me, is it... more

One must be prepared for anything


Poet Nshan Abasyan: “I will not say it is news that this process is not only not legal, but also not moral: it is generally anti-national, anti-Christian, and distorts the perceptions of our spiritual values. It is very difficult to make predictions, but the developments of recent years show... more

Every Man Makes His Choice


Father Nshan Alaverdyan: “We are at a crossroads where every man makes his choice: for God or against God, for the Church or against the Church. The Church is the advisory body of Christ, and human attempts cannot disturb or influence it, because the Holy Spirit is the guide. We will all go one... more

The canonical autonomy of the church is protected by international norms


According to Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, the canonical autonomy of the church is guaranteed by international conventions, therefore no one has the right to interfere in the process of ecclesiastical appointments and dismissals. The appointment and replacement of the Primate is exclusively... more

Citizens gathered in front of the court greeted the Armenian Patriarch with chants of “Vehapar”


On August 7, the first session of the preliminary hearings in the case of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and six bishops began at the Echmiadzin residence of the General Jurisdiction Court of Armavir Region. Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself in a closed session. Citizens gathered in... more

Diaspora Diocesan Leaders’ Condemning Statements Regarding the Trial of the Catholicos


The Patriarchal Delegate of Western Europe, the leaders of the Armenian dioceses of Damascus, Germany, Iraq, Romania, Great Britain and Ireland have issued statements, noting that the situation surrounding His Holiness and high-ranking clergy, their summons to court within the framework of a... more

Diaspora Spiritual Structures and AGBU Call for Suspension of Proceedings Against Catholicos


His Holiness Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the AGBU have issued condemnatory statements, calling August 7 a day of national shame and disgrace, when the Patriarch of All Armenians and six high-ranking bishops are due to stand trial. ... more

International Reuters News Agency's coverage of the trial of the Catholicos of All Armenians


Reuters news agency has covered the trial of the Catholicos of All Armenians and six high-ranking clergymen in Armenia, assessing it as another escalation of the deepening contradictions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government and the Armenian Apostolic Church. This trial is... more

Diaspora Dioceses Respond to Criminal Prosecution of Catholicos


The Armenian Eastern Diocese of the United States, the Armenian Diocese of Canada, Russia, and New Nakhichevan, as well as the Armenian Diocese of Argentina and Chile, have issued statements condemning the decision to initiate criminal prosecution of His Holiness Karekin II, the Patriarch of All... more

International Alert: Religious Freedom Under Threat in Armenia


The legal organization “Christian Solidarity International” is sounding the alarm about the trial of the Armenian Patriarch and six bishops on politically motivated false charges.  The organization calls on the entire world to express solidarity with the Armenian Apostolic Church... more

Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Youth of the Armenian Diocese of Argentina


On August 6, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, received 17-18-year-old graduates of national and secondary schools of the Armenian Diocese of Argentina and their accompanying educators.  His Holiness urged the youth to... more

Statement of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand in Support of the Catholicos of All Armenians


The Primate of the Diocese, the clergy, the Diocesan Council and related bodies have issued a statement expressing their full support for His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, the six bishops and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin