Clergy who met Pashinyan demand Catholicos resign

PanARMENIAN.Net - The bishops who recently met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have launched a petition demanding the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. The petition was published on the newly launched “Barenorogum” website, which features statements from clergy members opposing the Catholicos.

The petition is titled: “A demand to call on Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II to resign, appoint a locum tenens, and organize new Catholicos elections.”

The text states: “I join the demand to call on Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II to rest, to appoint a Catholicosal locum tenens, and to organize new elections.”

Signatories are required to provide their full name, diocese, email address, and phone number.

A group of senior clergy—archbishops and bishops—previously issued a statement accusing Catholicos Karekin II of attempting to cover up misconduct by Arshak Archbishop Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See, evidence of which was allegedly shown in circulated videos. The statement also claims that “Karekin II has been unfaithful to the spiritual vow.” Prime Minister Pashinyan met with these clergy members and welcomed their stance. In a new statement released on November 29, the group reiterated their call for the Catholicos to step down.