Mother See: “church reform” plan violates Constitution

PanARMENIAN.Net - In response to the joint statement by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and ten supporting bishops and archbishops, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin declared that the proposed “church reform initiative” represents a breach of Armenia’s Constitution.

“Actions undertaken by the head of Armenia’s government under the pretext of regulating and reforming internal Church life directly violate the Constitution and infringe upon the rights of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as recognized by international and Armenian law,” the statement reads.

a. “The involvement of bishops in such anti-Church processes and the pressure exerted on the clergy are deplorable. Matters concerning Church life must be addressed exclusively within its canonical structures. It is troubling that the ten bishops involved have so far ignored appeals and invitations from the Mother See and continue to avoid dialogue with the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Supreme Spiritual Council.”

b. “It must be emphasized that the regulation and reform of the Church are not within the jurisdiction of a self-declared council, but are strictly under the authority of the Armenian Apostolic Church and its supreme governing bodies.”

c. “Such reckless actions may lead to a schism, with painful consequences,” the statement warns.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and ten bishops, who have called for the resignation of Catholicos Karekin II, issued a joint statement urging participation in the Armenian Apostolic Church’s reform. Pashinyan read the declaration on Facebook Live, after which the supporting bishops signed it. He announced the formation of a coordinating council tasked with overseeing the Church reform process, stating it would be expanded only by unanimous decision.