Pashinyan to participate in Liturgy celebrated by Defrocked Father Aram Asatryan

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has announced on Facebook that he will participate in the Holy and Immortal Liturgy served by Father Aram Asatryan at Hovhannavank on Sunday.

“On Sunday, I will participate in the Holy and Immortal Liturgy celebrated by Father Aram Asatryan at Hovhannavank,” he said.

The Information Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has confirmed that, by patriarchal order of Catholicos Garegin II, Father Aram Asatryan has been officially defrocked.

“On October 21, by Patriarchal directive of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Rev. Fr. Aram Asatryan was declared defrocked.

This decision was made based on a report submitted by the Primate of the Diocese of Aragatsotn, and upon the conclusion of the Commission on Awards and Disciplinary Matters of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, which established that Fr. Aram Asatryan:

a) Through public addresses and statements, discredited the Armenian Church, the Diocesan Primate, and his fellow clergy;

b) Disregarded the admonitions and instructions of the Diocesan Primate, persisting in conduct unbecoming of a clergyman;

c) During the past month, willfully omitted the commemoration of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Diocesan Primate during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, thereby effectively placing himself outside the communion of the Church;

d) He repeatedly failed to appear before the sessions of the Commission, showing contempt for its authority and jurisdiction, and by such conduct he violated his sacred vow of obedience.

The defrocked clergyman shall henceforth be counted among the laity, under his baptismal name, Stepan Asatryan,’’ reads the statement made by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.