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A special church commission reviewing an intimate video allegedly involving Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan has confirmed the video’s authenticity, concluding that the senior clergyman breached his vow of celibacy, according to a statement signed by several clergymen.
The commission was set up by Catholicos Karekin II himself.
The commission, composed of high-ranking bishops and archbishops, recommended Catholicos Karekin II take action against Khachatryan, who is the Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
According to a statement signed by five archbishops and four bishops, serving both in Armenia and in dioceses of the church in other countries, Karekin II ignored the conclusion during a meeting on November 25 at the Church headquarters.
The high-ranking clergymen accused the head of the Church of inaction.
The footage’s authenticity was confirmed through a forensic analysis conducted by the Investigative Committee at the commission’s request.
“More than a month has passed since the dissemination of videos allegedly involving a high-ranking clergyman, and for us, the bishops, the approach taken by Catholicos Karekin II regarding this extremely sensitive issue—which damages the authority of the Armenian Church—is deeply perplexing and highly disturbing. Despite the fact that the commission, including individual bishops, has repeatedly and officially brought the matter to the Catholicos’s attention, it remains unaddressed. Considering that Catholicos Karekin II is attempting at all costs to cover up the sacrilegious acts of Archbishop Arshak, thereby effectively becoming a sponsor of sacrilege, we, by the episcopal authority and right vested in us, declare that Karekin II has failed to remain faithful to the oath he undertook at his consecration as Catholicos - to lead the Armenian Church faithfully according to doctrine.His behavior is incompatible with the canonical law and doctrine of the Armenian Church, posing a grave risk of division within the Church,” the bishops and archbishops said in a statement.
“We therefore call upon our episcopal brothers, the faithful, and devoted children of the Church to join in the vital effort of cleansing the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin – the holy of holiest of all Armenians - from the sacrilegious clergyman and those who share his guilt, and to strongly condemn the misguided path taken by Catholicos Karekin II.”
Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office Arayik Harutyunyan posted photos of the statement obtained by him on social media. The statement lists 13 bishops and archbishops, of whom 9 have signed it.