Karekin II decrees removal of dissenting clerics from Supreme Spiritual Council

Catholicos Karekin II has decreed the removal of three senior clergymen from the Supreme Spiritual Council, the advisory body of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The decision was announced by Priest Isaiah Artenyan, head of the Information Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The three clergymen—Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan, Prelate of the Diocese of Vayots Dzor; Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Prelate of the Diocese of the Baltic Countries; and Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, Prelate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn—were among the ten clergymen who called for Karekin II’s resignation.

They will be replaced on the council by Bishop Makar Hakobyan, Prelate of the Diocese of Syunik; Bishop Kirakos Davtyan, Prelate of the Diocese of Georgia; and Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan, Director of the Karekin I Educational Center of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Earlier, ten senior clergymen of the Armenian Apostolic Church issued a statement calling on followers to gather at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—the Church’s headquarters in the city of Vagharshapat—on Thursday and demand the resignation of Catholicos Karekin II, who has faced accusations of holding office illegitimately. The Catholicos has denied wrongdoing.

The clergymen submitted their letter calling for Karekin II’s resignation to the Church headquarters, where they were met by other clergymen and supporters of Karekin II. Armenian police warned against any attempts to escalate the situation and deployed a significant presence to ensure order and safety.

In a joint statement, the ten clergymen accused Karekin II of a “unilateral, arbitrary, and flawed course of governance” of the Armenian Apostolic Church.