Father Psak Mkrtchyan announced that the Armenian Ministry of Defense has terminated the activities of the Spiritual Leadership of the Armed Forces, a structure that had operated for over two decades.

“We are no longer serving as military chaplains. May God strengthen our Church, our Homeland, and our Army…,” he wrote, as reported by Aysor.am .

The Spiritual Leadership of the Armed Forces of Armenia was established on November 13, 1997, through the initiative of Catholicos Karekin I and then-Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsyan.

In 1997, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Ministry of Defense. Initially, the chaplaincy served Armenia’s border troops and the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh.