Father Yesayi Artenyan, Director of the Information Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, responded to recent criticism surrounding the visit of National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan to the Mother Cathedral and his meeting with clergy.
“The Mother Cathedral is open to all visitors, including the Speaker of the National Assembly. It welcomes not only Armenian Church followers, but also non-Christian and non-Armenian tourists,” he stated, according to News.am .
He emphasized that Simonyan’s visit was private and not officially arranged: “Moreover, the filming was done in violation of the regulations governing video recordings inside the cathedral, which is strictly unacceptable. A cathedral is for prayer, not for staging performative scenes,” Father Yesayi said.
During his visit to the Mother See, Simonyan took photos with citizens.
Previously, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had stated during a press conference that the Catholicosate would be “liberated the same way Armenia was liberated from Serzh Sargsyan in 2018.” He later urged preparations for a “Great Spiritual Gathering” in Etchmiadzin’s central square.
