The clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church said they will not accept “any anti-church and unlawful coercion” imposed by secular authorities, according to a statement they released .

The priests noted that interim court decisions concerning clergy of the diocese are “incompatible with ecclesiastical canonical life.”

“We, the undersigned clergymen serving in the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, consider it necessary to publicly express our disagreement and serious concern regarding the interim decisions adopted by the Court of First Instance of Armavir Province. These decisions effectively oblige us, as spiritual shepherds, to recognize as pastors former Fr. Aram Asatryan and Fr. Tadeh Takhmazian, who were defrocked by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and, according to church canons, are now lay persons — Stepan (Asatryan) and Aramais (Takhmazian) under their former names,” the statement reads.

They stressed that the court rulings are incompatible with canonical church life and with their priestly calling and service. According to the statement, priestly authority is granted through ordination and anointing and can function only within communion with the Church, remaining faithful to its traditions and vows.

The clergy noted that when a priest violates his vows and is defrocked by competent church authority, he is deprived of priestly rank, grace and authority and is counted among the laity, a status that “cannot be altered by any secular decision.”

They also emphasized the spiritual and moral dimension of priestly service, stating that it is based on freedom of conscience, faith and obedience to church order.

“No court or secular authority has the right to compel a priest to violate his vows, obedience and fidelity or to submit to a situation that contradicts priestly rank, conscience, doctrine and ecclesiological principles,” the statement says, arguing that there is a serious incompatibility between the interim judicial decisions and their rights to freedom of conscience and belief.

The statement further notes that freedom of conscience and religion is guaranteed by constitutional and legal norms in Armenia, and that no decision should interfere with the spiritual life and service of clergy or believers.

It adds that Armenian legislation, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights, guarantees the self-governance of the Armenian Apostolic Church and that the state cannot interfere in the Church’s internal affairs.

Issues such as defrocking clergy, appointing or dismissing them from ecclesiastical posts fall within the Church’s sphere of self-governance, the statement says, warning that state interference and granting secular individuals a “false clerical status” could lead to desecration of sacred rites.

“Therefore, taking into account the aforementioned fundamental principles, we declare that the implementation of the court decisions by us becomes objectively impossible due to their contradiction with canonical order and with our sacred obligations assumed through ordination before God and our faithful people,” the clergy said.

Despite what they described as various forms of pressure, they pledged not to accept any anti-church or unlawful coercion by secular authorities that would lead them to violate canon law or their vows.

The statement was signed by more than two dozen clergy members of the diocese.

Earlier, Judge Sima Abovyan of the Armavir Court of First Instance accepted for proceedings a lawsuit filed by defrocked Fr. Aram Asatryan against the Armenian Apostolic Church. A separate claim by Fr. Tadeh Takhmazian, filed under the name Aramais Takhmazian, was also accepted for proceedings. The court obliged the Church to ensure the reinstatement of the defrocked priests.

In turn, the Armenian Apostolic Church has filed lawsuits against the defrocked priests, which have also been accepted for proceedings.