Church Life Seriously Disrupted and Proceeding in a Non-Canonical Manner, Says the Coordinating Council for the Reform of the Armenian Apostolic Church

YEREVAN — The Coordinating Council for the Reform of the Armenian Apostolic Church has declared unlawful and unacceptable the public accusations voiced on January 10 by the individual occupying the Patriarchal Throne of All Armenians against the Primate of the Masis Diocese, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, as well as the imposition of what it describes as illegal directives.

In a statement, the Council emphasized that church life has been gravely disrupted and is proceeding in an abnormal and non-canonical manner.

Addressing clergy, faithful, and the Armenian people worldwide, the statement notes that, in light of deeply troubling developments surrounding the Armenian Apostolic Church—which have escalated into a deepening crisis—and guided by conscience, devotion to God, loyalty to the Mother Church, and responsibility to history and future generations, the Coordinating Council feels compelled to once again speak openly about issues that have long undermined ecclesiastical and public life. According to the Council, attempts to raise these concerns have repeatedly been silenced by the senior leadership of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The Council asserts that as long as the individual occupying the Holy Apostolic and Illuminator’s Throne does not publicly, clearly, and comprehensively address—honestly, conscientiously, and with repentance—the serious accusations raised against him over the years, the crisis will persist. These accusations include, among others:

Arbitrary and biased governance;

Encroachments upon national and pan-Christian holy sites, including the alienation of sacred heritage such as Geghard Monastery;

Distortion of sacred tradition and disrespect toward history;

Anti-state and anti-national activities;

Violations of Canons 15 and 16 of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, including unlawful interference in diocesan jurisdictions by bypassing diocesan primates—such as appointing or removing clergy by “patriarchal decree,” obstructing episcopal authority in ordinations and clerical appointments, and unjustly suspending the service of primates or locum tenens;

Pressure exerted on newly ordained monks, priests, and members of the diaconate who wish to join the church reform initiative.

WE DECLARE:
Church life has been seriously disrupted and is proceeding in a non-natural and non-canonical manner.

The Coordinating Council for the Reform of the Armenian Apostolic Church considers unlawful and unacceptable the accusations issued on January 10 by the individual occupying the Patriarchal Throne of All Armenians against Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, Primate of the Masis Diocese, as well as the enforcement of illegal directives.

The Council further states that it will deem unacceptable any future acts of provocation, bribery, or moral-psychological pressure against clergy as tools of unlawful governance. It also condemns and will not tolerate the organization and encouragement of disinformation and smear campaigns against clergy who have joined the reform movement, as well as the deliberate coordination of such actions by the Catholicosate and the Chancellery through various media outlets and individuals. According to the statement, such conduct by the individual occupying the Patriarchal office causes deep and irreversible harm to both the Church’s internal unity and the trust of the faithful.

In light of these realities, the Council declares that until acceptable and dignified answers are provided to the entire body of bishops—without evasions and grounded in ecclesiastical canon law—any decision, ruling, decree, encyclical, exhortation, directive, or order issued by the individual occupying the Patriarchal Throne, as well as any council, commission, assembly, or group decision organized under his presidency, will be considered unlawful for the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The Council reiterates that this position does not stem from personal animosity or emotional reactions to current events, but from a selfless love and sense of duty toward the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian state, and the faithful people.

“History will undoubtedly judge the price of each of our silence or our words,” the statement concludes. “For this reason, we choose to speak and act honestly—for the sake of Almighty God, Jesus Christ, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the spiritual future of the Armenian people.”

The statement ends with a citation from Scripture:
“May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).