Catholicos of All Armenians and Six Bishops Sent to Court in Criminal Case

The indictment in the criminal case against the Catholicos of All Armenians and six bishops has been approved by the prosecutor’s office and sent to court, according to the “Datalex” information system. The case was received by the Court of General Jurisdiction of Armavir Region and assigned to Judge Hakob Manukyan.

The defendants in the case include Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, along with clergymen Natan, Haykazun, Makar, Hovnan, and Mushegh. The legal proceedings stem from a dispute involving the Mashtots Diocese. Former primate of the Mashtots Diocese, now defrocked bishop Gevorg Saroyan, under his secular name Arman Saroyan, filed a lawsuit against the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, seeking to invalidate the patriarchal order relieving him of his position and to reinstate him as primate.

Judge Edgar Hovhannisyan of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Armavir Region accepted the lawsuit for proceedings and granted a motion for interim measures, temporarily reinstating the bishop as primate of the Mashtots Diocese pending a final court ruling. Following this decision, law enforcement authorities initiated criminal proceedings over the failure to comply with the court ruling, resulting in criminal prosecutions against members of the Supreme Spiritual Council and restrictions on their movement.

On February 14, it was announced that criminal prosecution had also been initiated against the Catholicos, with a travel ban imposed as a measure of restraint. The case highlights ongoing tensions within the Armenian Apostolic Church, as legal and administrative actions continue to unfold.

The situation reflects broader concerns about internal church governance and the balance of authority within the Armenian Apostolic Church. As the case moves forward, it will be closely watched by both the church community and the wider Armenian public. The legal proceedings underscore the complex interplay between religious leadership and civil law in the context of church affairs.

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