On November 13, several more clergymen were summoned for questioning by Armenia’s Investigative Committee (IC) as part of a criminal case linked to a leaked phone recording attributed to Bishop Nathan. Clergy from the Aragatsotn Diocese also arrived at the IC building to express solidarity with their fellow priests, reports Pastinfo.
Earlier reports confirmed that eight clergy members from both the Aragatsotn Diocese and the Mother See were already summoned for questioning.
Among those called are priests from Aragatsotn, including Father Ruben, a monk from the Mother See, and the name of Bishop Mushegh is also reportedly involved. Although they were officially summoned regarding the phone recording, the questioning reportedly centered on other matters—specifically, allegations that defrocking decisions within the Church were made based on discriminatory criteria.
Previously, Academy of Law Rector Ara Zohrabyan argued that anti-discrimination standards cannot be applied to Church doctrine, noting that the Church has established theological and canonical rules that inherently differentiate roles and sacraments.
