“We Expect Catholicos Karekin II to Voluntarily Retire So That New Elections Can Be Organized”

YEREVAN — On November 27 a group of bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) issued a signed declaration demanding the removal of Arshak Khachatryan and Ktrij (Ktrich) Nersisyan from the Church. That same day, they also met with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.

The bishops have now released a new statement, which reads:

“Beloved brothers in Christ, dear Armenian faithful,

We deeply regret the unhealthy atmosphere that has prevailed in recent months within and around our Church, troubling the souls of us all. Perhaps none of this would have occurred had the 1999 Catholicos election been fair and free of intimidation.

Due to the mismanagement of the Armenian Church, the escalating crisis within the Church and in Church–State relations—especially in recent months—has created an unprecedentedly dangerous situation in both the Homeland and the Diaspora, undermining the peace, faith, and unity of our people.

The unjustified and anti-canonical defrocking of many devoted clergymen has often been carried out arbitrarily, based solely on the unilateral decisions or pressure of the Catholicos.

Frequently, those appointed to ecclesiastical rank or Church positions have been persons of mediocrity, individuals of morally questionable conduct, the unworthy, or the simply obedient.

Because of the Catholicos’s flawed and arbitrary governance—his orders, appointments, unjust punishments, unwarranted interventions, and defrockings—our dioceses in the Diaspora, as well as individual parishes and ecclesiastical districts, are often thrown into turmoil, at times even compelled to sever ties with the Mother See.

The numerous serious accusations repeatedly voiced against the Catholicos in various media, platforms, and pulpits are ignored by him or by the relevant structures of the Mother See—neither commented on nor refuted—thereby deepening public suspicion regarding their truthfulness.

With the blessing and permission of the Catholicos, clerics have participated in domestic political processes, making political statements, issuing political appeals, and organizing or participating in political rallies. These practices are unacceptable, condemnable, and contrary to the spirit and rules of our Church, as well as to its mission of preserving the unity of the people.

The long-term, deliberate failure to create a Church Constitution—and later the complete suspension of that work—has allowed the Catholicos, for twenty-six years, to govern the Church at times according to his own views, arbitrarily.

The Episcopal Council, the National Church Assembly, and the Representative Assembly—which, according to the Church charter, must convene annually or every two years to examine and resolve matters relating to the mission, governance, financial and economic activity of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as national concerns—have intentionally not been convened with the required regularity.

The concerns, criticisms, and accusations repeatedly raised by Armenian state bodies and public officials regarding the actions and conduct of the Catholicos remain unanswered. No harm or danger should ever come to the Homeland or the Armenian State from the Armenian Apostolic Church—especially from the Catholicos or from clergy cooperating with him.

This list of violations, errors, omissions, and shortcomings could go on.

The current trajectory of the Mother See and the Catholicos of All Armenians is anti-canonical, dangerous, harmful, and destructive. It cannot continue.

We appeal to the Holy Patriarchs of Jerusalem and Constantinople, to the College of Bishops of the Armenian Church, to the clergy, to state bodies of the Homeland, to public officials, and to our faithful people:

Holy Patriarchs: As the highest-ranking throne-holders of our Church and chairs of our assemblies, lead—or at least call for, join, and assist in—the process of swiftly resolving the current situation.

Beloved Bishops and spiritual brothers: We are confident many of you share these concerns. If you wish to see our Armenian Apostolic Holy Church restored as quickly as possible to its God-pleasing and people-loving mission, remain in communication with the members of the Committee without delay and express your position.

We, a group of bishops, fully aware of our share of responsibility for the current situation, seek through this initiative to begin the reformation of the Armenian Church—so that our Holy Church may once again fulfill its irreplaceable mission, entrusted to it by our Lord Jesus Christ; contribute to the strengthening of the State in these dangerous times; ensure that the Catholicos of All Armenians is truly the Catholicos of all Armenians, regardless of political or religious outlook; and that our Mother Church may truly act as a mother, uniting the children of our nation who seek faith in different spiritual traditions.

It is necessary to develop and adopt—at the very first convened National Church Assembly—a Constitution for the Armenian Apostolic Church, so that the authority, course, canonicity, and sacred mission of our Church do not depend solely on the personal qualities, character, or abilities of the sitting Catholicoi and Primates.

This selfless step undertaken for the unity and prosperity of our people, for the strengthening, security, and longevity of our Homeland and State, and for the God-pleasing mission of our Mother Church, is unjustly criticized by some of our spiritual brothers, by journalists unaware of the situation, and by certain political and public figures. We call on all to judge soberly and realistically, for we stand on the brink of the Church’s complete discrediting and fragmentation, and the religious division of our nation.

We expect that Catholicos Karekin II—out of love for our Church and our people—will assess the situation with clarity, will not lead our nation and Church into further turmoil, will voluntarily retire, and will therefore make possible the organization of new elections.

May the all-seeing and almighty God guide us. Amen.”

Signatories: