Jailed clergy denounce church intruders

PanARMENIAN.Net - Archbishops Bagrat Galstanyan and Arshak Khachatryan, currently in detention, issued a statement responding to the December 18 events at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

They wrote that those they called “traitors to faith” must also realize they have chosen “the path of self-destruction and self-denial.”

“On December 18, under the overt patronage of their infamous ringleader, the anti-Church mob once again stormed the Mother See, attempting to defile our sacred sanctuary,” they stated.

“It was disgraceful to see high-ranking clergy—traitors with the brand of betrayal etched on their foreheads like a fox mark—cowering behind police lines with bewildered and lost expressions,” the statement added.

The bishops asserted that these individuals, now puppets in the hands of a disruptive puppet master, will eventually be sacrificed to the idol of hate and hostility they serve.

They described the incident as a shameful page in modern Armenian history, noting that “the Mother Cathedral’s walls have witnessed many raiders. This was another. All have vanished into dust.”

They praised the steadfastness of faithful clergy and believers, stating that the sense of identity in the Armenian people cannot be extinguished, regardless of the severity of persecution.

Speaking also on behalf of fellow detained clergymen, Mikael and Mkrtich, the authors reaffirmed their loyalty to the Catholicos of All Armenians and the Apostolic Throne of St. Gregory, and expressed support for the devoted clergy and people.

They also offered prayers for the speedy recovery of Father Vrtanes Baghalyan.

“May our Lord protect the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, our wounded and beloved homeland and people, so that clouds vanish from our lives, fog is rejected, darkness disappears, evil is defeated, despair is driven away, and the Almighty Hand of the Lord reigns,” they concluded.

On December 18, ten bishops who had met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and called for Catholicos Karekin II to step down, issued a statement in Etchmiadzin before leaving quickly. At the same time, the Catholicos was attending a service inside the Mother Cathedral.

"Today, another assault was attempted against Holy Etchmiadzin, sadly with the involvement of some of our clergy. Yet our faithful people remain steadfast and fearless. This noise inside the Church will never disrupt our mission or our plans, which aim to glorify our Church and build up our nation," said Catholicos.