Shirak Clergy Say Liturgy by Outsiders Means Cathedral Is Seized

Gyumri’s Seven Wounds Cathedral. Photo Credit: Marcin Konsek / Wikimedia Commons

By PanARMENIAN

Clergy from Armenia’s Shirak Diocese have issued a strong statement declaring that if anyone other than its authorized priests performs a liturgy in any diocesan church, including the Seven Wounds Cathedral, it will signify a forceful seizure of the diocesan seat.

“We, the undersigned clergy of the Shirak Diocese, declare that now and always we shall serve the Holy Liturgy faithfully and canonically. We will continue to mention our Patriarch, His Holiness Karekin II, and our diocesan leader, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, by name,” the statement reads.

They stressed that the legal functioning of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Shirak Diocese depends on services being conducted solely by its authorized clergy. Unauthorized liturgies, especially in Seven Wounds, would undermine religious rites and obstruct the spiritual needs of the faithful.

“Seven Wounds has survived two Turkish occupations. This, too, shall be overcome with dignity,” the clergy concluded.

The declaration was signed by 29 priests.

On December 4, following a cabinet meeting, Pashinyan did not deny reports that National Security Service agents had contacted priests to request that the Catholicos’s name be omitted from the liturgy. He stated he only attends masses where the Catholicos is not mentioned.