The Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan has denied what it calls unfounded claims by pro-government media outlets suggesting that Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II might relocate to the Russian Federation and lead the Armenian Apostolic Church remotely.

The statement emphasizes that the Catholicos, as the spiritual head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is fully in control of all ecclesiastical affairs, according to Pastinfo.

The Diocese also asserted that “by targeting the unity of the Church and the Catholicos, Armenia’s current authorities and their backers aim to divide the Church, establish a rival patriarch, and appoint a Catholicos of their own choosing. Their goal is to subject the Church to their control in violation of the Constitution and the law, thereby fragmenting the two-thousand-year-old Church’s unity.”

Earlier, a group of bishops who met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a statement calling for supporters to gather on December 18 at the Mother See to demand that Catholicos Karekin II resign. Meanwhile, clergy from the Diocese of Aragatsotn announced that their joint prayer, originally planned at St. Hovhannes Church in Byurakan, will now take place at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This was followed by calls from citizens, including political and public figures, urging people to gather at 15:30 at the Mother See in support of the Church and the Catholicos.