Armenian Parliament Announces Members of Commission to Investigate Crisis Within Armenian Apostolic Church

YEREVAN — The Armenian National Assembly has announced the composition of a parliamentary commission established to investigate what it describes as a crisis within the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The order establishing the commission was signed by National Assembly Speaker Ruben Rubinyan.

The commission will be chaired by Civil Contract Party lawmaker Arman Yeghoyan.

Its members, all representing the ruling Civil Contract parliamentary faction, are Eduard Aghajanyan, Taron Chakhoyan, Arpine Davoyan, Alkhas Ghazaryan, Tsovinar Vardanyan, and Gor Arshakyan.

Both opposition parliamentary factions have declined to participate in the commission’s proceedings.

According to its official mandate, the investigative commission will examine the crisis allegedly caused by the activities of certain clergy members of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

It will also investigate concerns regarding the Church’s ability to fulfill its distinctive mission in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, the development of national culture, and the preservation of Armenian national identity.