Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On August 26, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council, the bishops of Armenia, and diocesan primates was held under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

The agenda included matters concerning the administrative, canonical, and disciplinary affairs of the Church, as well as issues related to its mission. Church-state relations and the current situation were also discussed. In this regard, the meeting issued the following statement.

STATEMENT
of the Supreme Spiritual Council

We are deeply grieved to witness the unacceptable conduct demonstrated in recent days by the Civil Contract faction in the newly constituted National Assembly.

It is perplexing that, amid the numerous challenges facing the Homeland and dangerous external pressures, the ruling force, instead of fulfilling its responsibilities, is once again targeting our Holy Church during the discussion of the Government’s Program, openly violating the country’s Constitution and disregarding rights enshrined in international law. Such a policy will inevitably lead to a deepening of existing tensions and result in new divisions among our people, both in the Homeland and in the Diaspora.

In an effort to discredit the Church, malign the clergy, and create the appearance of a crisis, the authorities are making blatantly false accusations against the Armenian Church, portraying it as an “agent of foreign influence” and a “state within a state,” and alleging that its prayerful remembrance of Artsakh, its advocacy for the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh and the preservation of their spiritual and cultural heritage, and its raising of the issue of the release of Armenians held captive in Baku supposedly make it a “party of war” and a “security threat.”

Every effort is being made to create artificial pretexts for interference in the internal life and order of the Church and to restrict the autonomy of the Armenian Church through fabricated accusations against the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos of All Armenians, and the clergy, as well as through unfounded and directed criminal prosecutions, thereby violating the right of the faithful to freedom of religion and conscience.

Condemning these actions, the Supreme Spiritual Council notes that attempts are being made to create an artificial agenda around the Armenian Church.

The Government has neither the authority nor the constitutionally established competence to make the reform of the Church part of its program or, at its own discretion, impose any “proposals” or demands upon the clergy.

The National Assembly has no authority to consider internal Church matters and is neither a competent nor an appropriate forum for discussing them.

The reform of the Armenian Church cannot be carried out through external pressure, threats, or similar acts of arbitrariness.

The authorities’ genuine anti-Church intentions are also evidenced by the removal of the subject “History of the Armenian Church” from the general education curriculum, the abolition of spiritual care in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, the suspension of the pastoral ministry of clergy in penitentiary institutions, and the imposition of additional tax obligations on the Church through the application of unjustified penalties and fines.

The Armenian Church, remaining faithful to its mission entrusted by the Lord, has always been and continues to be guided by the interests of the Armenian state and the worldwide Armenian people.

The Armenian Church will continue to be a guardian of our identity and an advocate of national unity, making every effort for the peaceful, safe, and prosperous life of our people.