Accompanied by church hierarchs and under the peal of bells, His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II entered the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. Hundreds of people assembled in the courtyard welcomed him with chants of “Vehapar, Vehapar” (Your Holiness, Your Holiness), according to Sputnik Armenia.

Earlier, a group of bishops who met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a statement urging people to join them on December 18 at the Mother See to call for the Catholicos to step down. Clergy from the Aragatsotn Diocese announced that the joint prayer, initially planned for St. Hovhannes Church in Byurakan, would instead be held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

These developments were followed by calls from citizens, including political and public figures, to gather at 15:30 at the Mother See in support of the Church and the Catholicos.