His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin said that praying namaz in the Cathedral of Ani (The Holy Virgin Cathedral) is a political action having nothing to do with religion.

“The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin condemns such actions aiming to erase the trace of the real owners of this land,” His Grace Khachatrian told a news conference in Yerevan.

Commenting on the liturgy in Holy Cross Church, he said that Turkey just pretends to be a democratic and tolerant state but did not rule out that after installation of the cross representatives of Holy Etchmiadzin can take part in religious ceremonies on invitation of the AAC Constantinople Patriarchate.