Clergy reaffirm loyalty to Mother See and Catholicos
PanArmenian.net
A group of clergy from the Armenian Apostolic Church have reaffirmed their loyalty to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and to the Catholicos of All Armenians, rejecting calls for division within the Church.
Father Serob Azaryan wrote: “Even if I remain the last clergyman, I will stand by the faith our nation has confessed, by its goals, the priceless blood of our martyrs, our historic and present Homeland and its sanctity, and by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and its steadfastness.”
Father Yeznig Galstyan stated: “I, Father Yeznig Galstyan, express my unconditional filial loyalty to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and its Throne-bearer, the Supreme Patriarch of our nation. I oppose this destructive process of dividing our Church and faithful people.”
Father Vard Gyozalyan, identifying himself as a son and servant of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty and full dedication to the Mother See and to the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Similar statements have been issued by Father Oshin Hayrapetyan, Father Komitas Tigranyan, Father Nshan Panfyorov, Father Parkev Zeynalyan (pastor of the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Sisian), and others.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Facebook that the number of priests who have joined the Armenian Apostolic Church reform initiative has reached sixteen. He urged support for those clergy members.
The Armenian Apostolic Church Reform Council has held its first session, where it discussed key reform directions, organizational steps, and upcoming actions based on the founding declaration’s principles and objectives.
The Council also published a roadmap for reform with the following agenda: public declaration of the reform program; removal of the Church’s de facto head; election of a Locum Tenens (interim Catholicos); adoption of a new Church statute; and election of a new Catholicos of All Armenians.
