Members of “New Armenia, New Catholicos” initiative who demand the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, broke into the Archives of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: disputes between church attendants and members of the initiative took place.
Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, the Deacon of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, clarified the situation in an interview with journalists: “Of course, the resignation of the Catholicos is possible, but there should be grounds for that. We have not heard any real, rational facts”.
The demonstrators stated that violence had been used against them in the Archives, but Arshak Bishop said that he had not received such information. According to him, they had tried to negotiate with the protesters, but the latter insisted on implementing their demand, which is an unacceptable behavior.
“How do you think the Catholicos should react to this if they speak with an ultimatum to him? This movement violates the church charter. The Commission should still consider the issue of punishing Father Koryun for these actions”, said Bishop Arshak Khachatryan in response to the journalists’ questions.
Luiza SUKIASYAN
