Bishop Babayan to lead Etchmiadzin clergy meeting

PanARMENIAN.Net - The clergy assembly in Etchmiadzin, rescheduled for July 11, will be led by Bishop Mushegh Babayan, head of the monastic council of Holy Etchmiadzin, replacing Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, who remains in custody.

Originally set for June 27, the clergy gathering was canceled after law enforcement entered the grounds of the Catholicosate to arrest Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan. The event was disrupted due to his detention. For over two decades, Archbishop Mikael had overseen these clergy meetings.

Fr. Yesayi Artenyan confirmed the new date and leadership in comments to Sputnik Armenia.

On the night of June 25–26, law enforcement arrested Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the Sacred Struggle movement, in connection with a coup investigation. On June 27, Armenia's National Security Service commandos stormed the Catholicosate grounds to detain Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese. Although Ajapahyan later presented himself to the Investigative Committee, he was formally arrested on June 28.

On July 8, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated he is ready to personally lead the "liberation" of Holy Etchmiadzin, declaring: “The house of Christ has been seized by an anti-Christian, immoral, anti-national, anti-state group.”