Schismatic Bishop Gevorg Saroyan removed from his post as Primate of   Masyatsotn Diocese

ArmInfo. By the decree of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, dated January 10, 2026, the Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, has been removed from his post as the  Primate of the Diocese.

The Mother See of Holy Echimadzin issued a statement citing several  violations as the grounds for his removal, including abuse of office,  failure to fulfill his duties, and the use of coercion and pressure  on the clergy of the diocese.

Concurrently, His Eminence Bishop Ruben Zargaryan has been appointed  by the Catholicos to serve as the vicar of the Masyatsotn Diocese.

By the decree of His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II  on January 10, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan has been removed from his post  as the primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese.

Recall, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan was one of  the 10 bishops who had  previously joined Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's initiative to  remove His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. On the  evening of January 4, 2026, he, along with nine other rebellious  bishops, signed the so-called "roadmap for improvement" of the  Armenian Apostolic Church, prepared by the head of the executive  branch.