Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

We, the priests serving in the dioceses of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia, under the high presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, gathered on 26 May, the symbolic day of the Battle of Avarayr, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, offer thanksgiving and glory to Almighty God for the gift of common prayer and the opportunity, in a spirit of brotherly unity, to reflect upon our sacred mission.

The Armenian Church, established through apostolic preaching and under the gracious protection of God, continues its unwavering service to the Armenian people in the Homeland and in the Diaspora, strengthening the faith of our devout people, diligently pursuing the preservation of national identity, promoting Armenian national education and upbringing, and serving as the voice of truth and justice in our society, in fulfillment of its God-established mission.

In these difficult days for the Armenian Church, when anti-church actions are being carried out in Armenia through the use of state mechanisms, aimed at revising the centuries-old ecclesiastical order and canonical norms, and when attempts are being made to impose the resignation of the Catholicos of All Armenians and, in essence, to subordinate the Church to political authority, we firmly declare that the self-governance of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, its canonical order, and its internal life are not subject to the dictates of any political force or state body. This unlawful and unconstitutional campaign directly endangers our national unity and public stability, and also inflicts a serious blow upon the foundations of Armenian statehood.

At the same time, we regard as deeply reprehensible the anti-canonical and sacrilegious actions carried out under state patronage by individuals deprived of clerical rank, as well as the seizure and unlawful use of monasteries, churches, ecclesiastical structures, and property. This constitutes not only a gross violation of canonical order but also a deliberate attempt to undermine ecclesiastical unity from within.

With sorrow, we also note that certain priests are being drawn into these divisive processes, becoming, whether willingly or unwillingly, accomplices in anti-church actions. Such a path is alien to the priestly vow and cannot be justified spiritually, morally, canonically, or humanly. We call upon our brethren to reconsider their misguided course and to refrain from actions that violate ecclesiastical canons.

We give thanks to God that our people throughout the world remain unshakable in their fidelity to Holy Etchmiadzin and steadfast in their determination to defend the rights and dignity of the Armenian Church. Every attempt to undermine the sovereignty of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to trample upon ecclesiastical order, or to diminish the God-given authority of the Catholicos of All Armenians will inevitably meet the firm and unwavering resistance of the entire faithful people and of the clergy faithful to their sacred vow.

Remaining faithful to our vow and to the source of Holy Myron — Holy Etchmiadzin — we express our filial and unconditional support for His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, for, in these days of trial, he leads the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church with patriarchal wisdom, spiritual courage, and calm steadfastness.

With trust in God, we pray that the Lord may extend His all-gracious and all-protecting Right Hand over our people, our Homeland, and the Holy Church, preserving Armenia in peace, the Armenian Church in steadfastness, and our faith in unshakable firmness.