Court reinstates Bishop Saroyan as Masis Diocese leader

PanARMENIAN.Net - Bishop Gevorg Saroyan has been reinstated as the head of the Masis Diocese by a decision from the Armavir Court of First Instance, pending the final ruling in his legal case. The bishop stated that the court granted his request for an interim measure, as reported by 1lurer.am .

According to Saroyan, the accusations against him by the Catholicos are “entirely fabricated”, and he denies any misconduct.

“You cannot remove me simply for supporting reform within the Armenian Apostolic Church. I oppose the Church becoming an agent of foreign interests, I oppose sacrilege, I oppose treason. None of these should justify my dismissal,” the bishop said.

Earlier, it was reported that Bishop Gevorg Saroyan had filed a lawsuit against the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The lawsuit seeks to invalidate Catholicos Karekin II’s decree removing him as diocesan leader and demands his reinstatement as head of the Masis Diocese. The case was submitted to the Armavir court on January 15 and assigned to Judge Edgar Hovhannisyan.

On January 10, the Mother See had announced that, by decree of Karekin II, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan had been relieved of his duties as head of the Masis Diocese.