Father Tadeh Takhmazyan of the Holy Mother of God Church in Talin has been defrocked by directive of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Mother See’s Information Department announced.

The decision, issued on December 2, was based on a report from the Administrative Council of the Aragatsotn Diocese and the findings of the Mother See’s Committee on Awards and Disciplinary Issues.

According to the announcement, the reasons for defrocking included:

a) Discrediting the Armenian Church and its clergy, including issuing public defamatory statements;

b) Engaging in anti-church activities, including participating in actions involving another defrocked clergyman;

c) Omitting mandatory references to the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Diocesan Primate during liturgies, effectively rejecting ecclesiastical hierarchy and aligning himself with a schismatic movement;

d) Demonstrating disobedience to church authority.

As a result, he will henceforth be regarded as a layperson and referred to by his baptismal name, Aramayis Takhmazyan.

On November 2, Ter Tadeh participated in a liturgy led by defrocked priest Stepan Asatryan (formerly Ter Aram) at Hovhannavank Monastery. He also publicly supported Asatryan’s declarations and posts.