Armenian Apostolic Church Leader to Stand Trial for First Time in Modern History

The Armenian Apostolic Church faces its first criminal trial in modern history as its top leader, Catholicos Karekin II, is accused of obstructing a court order. Prosecutors have referred a case against Karekin II and five senior Church officials to court, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the government and the country’s most influential religious institution.

According to Armenia’s Datalex judicial information system, Karekin II and members of the Supreme Spiritual Council are charged with abusing their positions to hinder the enforcement of a lawful court decision. The case revolves around the January 2026 dismissal of Bishop Gevorg Saroyan as head of the Masyatsotn Diocese. Saroyan contested the decision in court, leading to an interim ruling that required him to continue serving as diocesan leader and barred the Church from interfering with his authority or access to financial accounts.

Prosecutors allege that despite the court’s order and a notice from the Compulsory Enforcement Service, Church leaders proceeded with Saroyan’s defrocking, knowingly disregarding the ruling. The defendants include Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Archbishop Haykazun Najaryan, Bishop Vahan Hovhannesyan, Bishop Edgar Hakobyan, and Bishop Artur Hakobyan. Authorities have also imposed a travel ban on Karekin II, restricting his movement during the proceedings.

The dispute highlights a growing conflict between civil courts and the Armenian Apostolic Church over the extent of state authority in Church matters. Church officials have rejected court intervention, with clergy from the Masyatsotn Diocese arguing that recognizing Saroyan as diocesan leader would violate canon law, as he had been defrocked and reverted to lay status under his secular name, Arman Saroyan.

Saroyan was dismissed by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for alleged abuse of authority, neglect of duties, and use of coercion against clergy. He has since become a vocal critic of Church leadership, joining ten bishops who have called for Karekin II’s resignation. Saroyan has met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and repeatedly criticized the Church’s leadership, further intensifying the divide between the government and the religious institution.

The prosecution comes amid an unprecedented confrontation between Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Over the past year, authorities have taken steps to assert greater control over Church affairs, reflecting a broader struggle over the role of religion in public life. This legal challenge represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict, with implications for the Church’s autonomy and the balance of power between state and religious institutions.

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