OFFICIAL STATEMENT From the Primate, His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan and Diocesan Council of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese

As the Primate and Diocesan Council of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese, we issue this official statement to unequivocally condemn the decision of public prosecutors and law enforcement authorities in the Republic of Armenia to initiate criminal proceedings against His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in relation to matters strictly falling within the internal regulatory, spiritual-administrative, and canonical jurisdiction of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

We issue this declaration while reaffirming our unequivocal respect for the sovereign statehood of the Republic of Armenia, its constitutional order, and the legitimate authority of its public institutions. At the same time, we emphasize that His Holiness Karekin II is the canonically elected and consecrated Supreme Pontiff of the universal Armenian Church, whose administrative authority and spiritual ministry are governed exclusively by Holy Tradition, the Sacred Canons, and internal ecclesiastical statutes.

Under Article 18 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the State explicitly recognizes the historic mission of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church as the national church and guarantees its right to self-governance and institutional autonomy. This constitutional principle fully aligns with fundamental norms of international law—specifically Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)—which protect the institutional autonomy of religious organizations and establish the state’s obligation of non-interference.

We assert that subjecting internal ecclesiastical discipline, hierarchical order, or spiritual governance to civil and criminal jurisdiction constitutes an unjustified excess of jurisdiction, contradicts established norms of church-state relations, and directly violates the constitutional and international legal guarantees of the Church’s autonomy.

As citizens of Canada—a nation whose legal order is founded upon the Rule of Law, constitutional protections, and fundamental freedoms—we uphold the core principle that civil authorities must respect the institutional independence of religious bodies. Attempting to subject the spiritual leadership of the Armenian Church to state prosecution over internal governance creates a dangerous legal precedent that undermines the protective framework of religious liberty.

Amid severe geopolitical and security challenges, national resilience and public cohesion depend directly upon mutual respect and institutional independence between the State and the Church, operating in strict accordance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

Therefore, we urgently call upon the competent state and legal authorities to:
1. Exercise judicial and prosecutorial restraint and immediately terminate all criminal proceedings pertaining to matters within internal ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
2. Strictly adhere to constitutional guarantees and international legal standards, ensuring full respect for the autonomy and canonical traditions of the Armenian Church.
3. Reaffirm a commitment to constructive dialogue, in order to preserve the inviolability of the Pontifical See, uphold the Rule of Law, and safeguard national unity both in the Homeland and throughout the Diaspora.

His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan
Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada
The Diocesan Council
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese