The Supreme Spiritual Council, convened at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, expressed deep concern over recent pressures and criminal proceedings targeting the Armenian Church and its clergy, emphasizing the intolerability of unlawful developments and the need to protect the rights of clerics and believers.
According to the statement released by the Mother See, the four-day session of the Council addressed criminal cases involving clergy, issues surrounding the right to a fair trial, and the situation of detainees and forcibly displaced persons from Artsakh.
The Council also highlighted the urgent need to preserve Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage. It strongly criticized the violations of the rights of the Church and clergy, as well as the spread of hate speech, noting that such actions undermine societal harmony. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to support imprisoned clergy and faithful, advocating for the protection of their rights.
During the session, a decision was made to form special committees to organize events marking the 1700th anniversary of the death of St. Gregory the Illuminator and to thoroughly examine the canonization of Komitas Vardapet.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, after twice attending a liturgy officiated by a defrocked priest deemed illegitimate by the Mother See, announced plans to attend another liturgy in Talin on November 9, led by Father Tade.
