Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

By the decision of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia dated 27 March 2026, Arman Saroyan (formerly Bishop Gevorg) has been appointed to the “Consultative Commission on Pardons” as the representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

This appointment, made without the consent of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is unacceptable and unlawful, and also violates the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.

A representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church in a state or any other body may be appointed only with the blessing and authorization of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians. The defrocked Bishop Gevorg is not authorized and cannot represent the Armenian Church on canonical, legal, or moral grounds.

This step constitutes another encroachment upon the autonomy of the Armenian Church and the canonical jurisdiction of the Catholicos of All Armenians.

It is necessary to withdraw the said false information from the official document — the decision of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.