Garnahovit: defrocked priest holds a “liturgy”, Aragatsotn diocese condemns it
- Published
- Place
- Garnahovit, Armenia
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
The Aragatsotn diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church on 1 November condemned a “liturgy” held that day at St George’s Church in Garnahovit, a village in the Talin area, by Armen Arakelyan, a former priest known as Father Koryun. The diocese recalled that he was defrocked on 17 July 2018 by Catholicos Karekin II on the advice of a disciplinary commission. A service led by a defrocked person “cannot be regarded as a canonical liturgy”, the statement said, accusing the former priest of breaking church order and misleading the faithful. Images of the service, showing him in liturgical vestments and a mitre, were circulating on social media.
Analysis
In 2018 Armen Arakelyan led the “New Armenia, New Patriarch” movement, which demanded Karekin II’s departure. His reappearance comes as the Church is in open conflict with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government, which also challenges the Catholicos’s authority: the trial of Karekin II and six bishops, accused of obstructing the enforcement of a court ruling, has been adjourned to 6 November. On the same day, 1 November, prayers marked the 27th anniversary of Karekin II’s enthronement.
Possible consequences
The diocese urges the faithful not to attend such services. The Church may ask local authorities to better control access to its churches.
What remains uncertain
It is not known who opened the church to Armen Arakelyan or whether legal action will follow. He had not responded publicly as of 1 November.
