In line with the patriarchal directive issued on March 16 by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan, Primate of the Vayots Dzor Diocese, has been relieved of his position at his own written and verbal request, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin’s press service reported.

Archbishop Abraham had earlier joined Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s announced “reform agenda.”

Under the same Patriarchal order, Bishop Makar Hakobyan, Primate of the Syunik Diocese, has been appointed acting head of the Vayots Dzor Diocese on a temporary basis, assuming the responsibilities of the diocesan primate.

On January 4, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and ten bishops who demanded the removal of the Catholicos announced the start of reforms in the Armenian Apostolic Church and presented a “road map” that envisaged creating a coordinating council to handle organizational issues of church reform.

Later, Pashinyan said he believed the purpose of organizing a meeting of the Armenian Church’s Council of Bishops in Austria was to move the Catholicosate and the treasures of Etchmiadzin out of Armenia.

On February 14, it became known that Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office had initiated criminal proceedings against Catholicos Karkgin II over accusations of failing to comply with a court ruling in the case of the former head of the Masis Diocese and had banned him from leaving the country.