Mother See condemns "liturgies" in various churches led by Pashinyan

ArmInfo. The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemns the organizing of "liturgies" in  various Armenian Apostolic Church diocesan churches by the Armenian authorities, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with law enforcement intervention, grossly violating church canons.

As noted in a statement issued by the information department  of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, these actions by the Armenian authorities violate the ecclesiastical rules  and regulations of the AAC, the Constitution and legislation of Armenia,  insulting the spiritual feelings of the faithful and sowing division.  In this regard, the statement notes that the participation of any bishop in these "liturgies" that disregard the spiritual authority of the primate of the diocese and generally accepted practices is a serious canonical violation, and this took place at the Church of the Holy Mother of God ("Seven Wounds") of the Shirak Diocese in Gyumri.

"Still refraining from taking strict measures, the Mother See urges the rule-breaking bishops to cease their vicious path and public statements with false and fabricated content, and to return to the canonical realm, following the centuries-old traditions of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. They should act exclusively within the spiritual realm, and with an awareness of maintaining legality and unity. This is the duty, calling, and mission of a bishop as a minister endowed with apostolic succession," the statement concluded.