Bishop Khoren Arakelian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Greece, wrote on Facebook that recent moves against the Church amount to “spiritual violence,” and cannot be viewed merely as internal political events as they concern the global Armenian community as well.
He strongly condemned the recent actions in Armenia targeting Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan of the Aragatsotn Diocese, clergy, and lay staff. Arakelian argued these events damage public trust in the justice system and deal a serious blow to the rule of law and democratic values.
He declared as unacceptable:
- The baseless and illegal arrests of senior clergy,
- Unlawful wiretaps targeting the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicos, and Church leadership, intended to cause internal divisions and discredit the Church,
- Invasive searches of Church institutions without proper legal grounds,
- The attempt to initiate criminal proceedings against the Catholicos of All Armenians, calling it an attack on the spiritual backbone of Armenian statehood.
Arakelian asserted: “The Armenian Church is the birthplace of Armenian statehood, and the Catholicos is not only its spiritual head but also a tireless defender of national interests on the global stage.”
He added that recent rhetoric from some state officials violates international law and disrespects fundamental principles protecting religious autonomy and freedom. Such pressure against the Church, he warned, undermines national security, destabilizes public morale, and risks creating rifts in pan-Armenian unity.
“We declare: no government body in the Republic of Armenia has the right to interfere in Church affairs. What we see today is not a legal process—it is spiritual violence aimed at severing Armenians from their history, faith, and identity.”
He called on the authorities to immediately halt unconstitutional actions against the Church and to release detained clergy, including Father Garegin and benefactor Samvel Karapetyan.
“This kind of violence against the Church cannot be resolved with administrative decisions. It may escalate into a national crisis, for which the current leadership will be held accountable—domestically and internationally. We firmly stand by His Holiness.”
On October 15, Armenia’s Investigative Committee, accompanied by the National Security Service, conducted searches at the Aragatsotn Diocese and the homes of several clergymen. Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan and other clergy and staff were taken in for questioning. The bishop was later detained for two months, and Father Garegin Arsenyan for one month. Others were classified as witnesses.
The Investigative Committee has charged Bishop Proshyan under two articles of the Criminal Code: abuse of official position to obstruct electoral rights and coercing participation in assemblies through authority or influence.
