The Armenian Apostolic Church’s Diocese in Germany has issued a call to the Armenian authorities, urging them to preserve the Church’s independence and uphold the principles of legality and justice. The appeal was delivered by Fr. Tiritur Sardaryan, spiritual pastor of the Armenian community in Baden-Württemberg.
Sardaryan warned that any actions taken against Catholicos Karekin II would represent an unprecedented violation of the Church’s autonomy and deeply shock not only the citizens of Armenia but also Armenians around the world. “Any encroachment on the Catholicos or the Church’s canonical foundations would be an attack not only on the Church but also on the spiritual and cultural roots of the Armenian nation,” he said, аccording to Aysor.am.
He emphasized that Garegin II is the duly elected head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, chosen in accordance with centuries-old canonical traditions that strictly exclude state interference. He added that proposals by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to expand the state’s role in the Church contradict both ecclesiastical law and the Armenian Constitution, which guarantees the separation of Church and State, as well as international standards on religious freedom.
During a recent press conference, Pashinyan responded to a question about removing the Catholicos by saying, “The Catholicosate will be liberated just as Armenia was liberated from Serzh Sargsyan in 2018.” He later called for preparation for a “Great Spiritual Gathering” in the central square of Etchmiadzin.
On Facebook, Pashinyan outlined a proposed plan for changes in the Mother See: removing the current Catholicos, appointing a morally upright priest as temporary locum tenens who would not be eligible to become Catholicos, and delaying new elections until a new Church Constitution—based on the Canon—is adopted.
