The clergy of the Kotayk Diocese, under the leadership of Archbishop Arakel Karamyan, have expressed their full support for His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 26:1)
The Armenian Apostolic Church, the clergy of the Kotayk Diocese—led by Archbishop Arakel Karamyan—and the faithful of the region stand in solidarity with Catholicos Karekin II, the statement reads.
“From the heart of every Armenian,
Hear this cry, O God.
Grant long life to the Patriarch,
Many days to the Father of Armenians.
Lord, keep steadfast forever
The Holy See You Yourself have founded.”
This declaration follows recent statements by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who wrote on Facebook that “active steps must be taken to liberate the Catholicosate residence at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and organize new Catholicos elections.” He added that a “Coordinating Group” would be created to handle organizational matters related to this agenda and that he would personally take responsibility for selecting the first 10 members of the group.
