Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

We, the bishops and diocesan leaders serving in Armenia and the Diaspora, united by the will of the Lord at the Holy See of Etchmiadzin — the Holiest of Holies of the Armenian people — under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, offer thanks and glory to Almighty God on this occasion of renewing our sacred ministerial vow.

We reaffirm our unwavering love, faithfulness, and wholehearted service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church—established through the preaching of the holy apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew—and to the Christ-founded Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, consecrated by the vision of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

We are deeply disturbed by the reprehensible campaign instigated by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia, and personally by the Prime Minister, against the Armenian Church, His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians, and high-ranking clergy. This campaign is accompanied by the spreading of hatred and hostility toward the clergy, as well as personal insults and disrespectful remarks.

This anti-Church campaign is nothing less than a disastrous blow to the Armenian people and Armenian statehood, especially amid the fragility of national life and the grave existential threats surrounding Armenia today.

The weakening and discrediting of the Armenian Church can benefit only anti-Armenian forces and enemies of the Armenian nation.

We strongly condemn the June 27 of the current year intrusion by law enforcement representatives into the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to detain His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, accompanied by threats of violence against clergy and the faithful. The decision to forcibly detain Archbishop Mikael is deeply troubling, especially since he had expressed his willingness to appear voluntarily before law enforcement, which he duly did.

Another glaring manifestation of the authorities’ anti-Church policy is the imprisonment of national benefactor Mr. Samvel Karapetyan, linked to his statement in defense of the Armenian Church.

Under orchestrated propaganda from the ruling political power, criminal prosecution with serious charges was initiated, and His Eminence Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan was arrested.

The persecutions of our spiritual brothers, the national benefactor, and their associates are openly accompanied by public directives from high-ranking officials of the ruling political power and by the spread of hate speech, declaring them guilty before any court verdict. Such conduct flagrantly violates the principles of presumption of innocence and separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution of Armenia, revealing political motives that cast doubt on the legality of these proceedings.

We urge the authorities of Armenia to immediately release our spiritual brothers, the national benefactor, and their associates, and to act strictly within the law, ensuring their right to a fair trial.

We consider unacceptable any encroachments by authorities or individuals on the Patriarchal See and the Church's canonical foundations.

With filial humility, we, the bishops and diocesan leaders, express our allegiance to the legitimately elected head of the Armenian Church—His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The Armenian Church, whose supreme body is the National Ecclesiastical Assembly, will continue to be governed by its centuries-old canonical traditions, excluding any external interference.

The clergy of the Armenian Church in Armenia and the Diaspora will continue to proclaim the true teachings of Jesus Christ and nurture the children of our people with spiritual and national fervor, responding attentively and appropriately to internal, national, and external challenges, fulfilling the Lord’s command to bear witness to the truth (cf. John 8:32).

We call upon the children of our Holy Church to remain steadfast in their faith in God, faithful in defending national sanctities and sacred values, and to reject divisive actions.

We pray that the Heavenly Lord preserve our homeland Armenia and the God-blessed Armenian people in peace, justice, prosperity, and safety; that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, founded by Him and the cornerstone of Armenian identity and statehood, remain unshakable; and that the Patriarchal staff of the Catholicos of All Armenians continue to flourish.