The Diocese of the Armenian Church in Georgia has reaffirmed its support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The statement was released amid growing tensions surrounding the Armenian Apostolic Church.

“We, the official representatives of the historic Diocese of the Armenians in Georgia, closely follow with concern the troubling developments surrounding the Armenian Apostolic Church, the pillar of our faith and national identity.

During these times, with unshaken faith, we reaffirm our loyalty and support to the divinely-established Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, its Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, and we express our solidarity with all those standing in defense of our Holy of Holies,” the statement reads.

The declaration is signed by Susanna Khachatryan, Karen Yeritsyan, Gisane Hovsepyan, Evgenia Markosyan, Suren Abramyan, Emil Sargsyan, Gohar Mazmanyan, Margarita Kirakosyan, and Mikael Avagyan.

The statement comes amid calls for reform within the Armenian Apostolic Church. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, along with ten bishops and archbishops demanding the resignation of the Catholicos, issued a joint declaration calling for church reform. Pashinyan read the statement during a Facebook livestream, after which the participating clerics signed it.

He announced the formation of a coordination council tasked with organizing church reforms. According to the announcement, the council will only be expanded through a unanimous decision.

The reform roadmap outlined in the declaration includes: announcing the reform agenda, removal of the Church’s de facto head, election of a Locum Tenens (temporary church leader), adoption of a new church charter, and the election of a new Catholicos.