The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin issued a strong statement rejecting claims aimed at discrediting the upcoming Bishops’ Assembly, affirming that the canonical validity of such a gathering does not depend on its location.
“There is no need to sabotage the assembly abroad with groundless arguments and false accusations,” the statement reads.
On January 21, a statement from the self-proclaimed Coordinating Council of the so-called Armenian Church Reform Movement, initiated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, once again distorted the facts and misled the faithful, the Holy See said.
The statement expressed deep regret over the divisive path adopted by ten defrocked bishops aligned with what the Church described as an anti-ecclesiastical campaign.
Echmiadzin noted that numerous appeals and invitations sent to bishops aligned with the government’s reform initiative remain unanswered. These included calls to return to canonical order and resolve issues through proper ecclesiastical bodies. Instead, these bishops have continued efforts, under obvious influence, to resolve disputes through illegitimate and condemnable means.
It stressed that questioning the authority of Church bodies—where many of these same bishops previously participated and made decisions—is unacceptable. Clarifications regarding this have already been officially provided.
Given the serious constitutional violations by state authorities, Echmiadzin views the convening of the Bishops’ Assembly as a key step toward resolving the situation. The Church emphasized that fundamental issues affecting spiritual life must be addressed within its recognized structures—not through external political pressure or manipulation.
“Renewal and strengthening of ecclesiastical life is a continuous process, requiring prayerful unity, lasting cooperation, and fidelity to sacred vows,” the statement said.
Remaining faithful to its divine mission, the Mother See affirmed its continued commitment to the Armenian statehood and to the peaceful and prosperous life of the Armenian people.
The Mother See has invited bishops aligned with the government-backed reform council to participate in the Bishops’ Assembly set for February 16–19 in Sankt Pölten, Austria. In response, the council called for the assembly’s cancellation and urged the Church to seek “realistic paths to end the destructive confrontation between the Church hierarchy and the state.”
