MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan has called on everyone to urgently go to Holy Etchmiadzin, writing on his Facebook page: “We must protect the Catholicos and the Mother See from profaners. All go to Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.”

Another MP from the Armenia faction, Garnik Danielyan, echoed the call: “By defending the Mother See, we defend ourselves. Today’s authorities have crossed all boundaries and exceeded their authority, entering the Catholicosate via the National Security Service. What is happening now inside the Mother See and against the Armenian clergy last happened during the Bolshevik era. As a nation, we must stand by our Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. This is a fight for our identity, our existence, our dignity. All go to Etchmiadzin.”

Tensions inside the Mother See escalated when gathered supporters prevented law enforcement from taking Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese, from Etchmiadzin. According to Aysor.am , the priest, alongside the Catholicos, returned to the Catholicosate following scuffles near a police vehicle.

Archbishop Ajapahyan’s condition reportedly worsened after being dragged by police, but his lawyer Mihran Poghosyan said his health is now satisfactory.

In the morning, about 30 masked individuals stormed the Shirak Diocese residence, according to Poghosyan. Although church service at Etchmiadzin was planned on June 27, investigators from the NSS are now present, possibly intending to search the Catholicosate building where the Catholicos resides. Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan stated that criminal proceedings have begun against Archbishop Ajapahyan and a defense legal team is being formed.