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The Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Thursday that police officers will be on duty at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to ensure public order and the safety of citizens during an assembly scheduled later in the day.
Ten bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church issued a statement calling on followers to gather at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Church’s headquarters in the city of Vagharshapat, at 17:00 on Thursday and demand the resignation of Catholicos Karekin II, who has faced accusations of holding office illegitimately.
Shortly after the statement, in an apparent show of support for Karekin II, the Diocese of Aragatsotn of the Church issued a statement saying that a mass initially planned to take place in a village church on Thursday would instead be held at 17:00 at the Etchmiadzin Cathedral—the same time and place as the planned assembly.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, “some people have made aggravating and provocative statements following the statement issued by the Aragatsotn Diocese.”
“We urge everyone to refrain from unlawful and provocative actions, to respect the rights of others, not to give in to provocations, and to comply with the lawful demands of police officers responsible for maintaining public order. The Ministry of Internal Affairs Police will carry out the functions entrusted to it by law, ensuring public order and the safety of all citizens,” the ministry said.
The ten bishops accused Karekin II of a “unilateral, arbitrary, and flawed course of governance” of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
“The dire situation of the Mother Church today also poses a threat to our national and state security interests," the bishops said.
"Before history, each of us is responsible for the decisions we make and the actions we take.We call on our spiritual brothers and our faithful people, both in Armenia and the diaspora, to demonstrate a united will, join us, and raise your rightful voice of protest against this destructive, canonically illegitimate course that deliberately seeks to undermine the Church’s credibility and authority—fully rejecting all attempts and efforts to serve foreign interests through the Armenian Church. Dear spiritual brothers and faithful Armenian people, on December 18 of this year at 17:00, come and join us at the spiritual center of all Armenians, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, in support of the just demand to call on Catholicos Karekin II to step down—a demand that has now become an urgent necessity,” reads in part the statement signed by the ten bishops.