By order of the Catholicos of All Armenians, Father Aram Asatryan has been officially defrocked and is henceforth considered a layman, reports Sputnik Armenia.
The decision was based on a report by the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese and the conclusions of the Committee on Awards and Disciplinary Issues of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The official report cited four main violations:
a) Through public statements and appearances, he discredited the Armenian Church, the Diocesan Primate, and his fellow clergy;
b) Persistently disobeyed the instructions and guidance of the Primate, displaying ongoing misconduct;
c) During the past month’s liturgies, he unilaterally omitted the names of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Diocesan Primate, effectively acting as a cleric outside the Church;
d) He refused to appear at committee sessions three times, disregarding its authority and violating his oath of obedience to the Church.
As a result, Father Aram Asatryan is declared defrocked and reclassified as a layperson. From now on, he is to be regarded as a layman under the name Stepan Asatryan.
