There is no need to expose the homeland and our people to new shocks and disasters. Statement from the priest to the gathering

The announcement from the priest to the gathering.

“We, the priests serving in the Armenian dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, express gratitude to our Heavenly Lord, who, under the high presidency of His Holiness the Patriarch, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, had the opportunity to gather in the Motherland of Holy Etchmiadzin, to reflect together on our sacred mission and to pray for our people and our homeland, our faithful people scattered around the world. We are deeply concerned about the painful developments taking place in our homeland in recent days. In the context of complex geopolitical realities, the political persecutions carried out in the country for various reasons and the campaign unleashed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and representatives of the ruling power against the Armenian Church and the clergy in this context are disrupting national life, weakening the unity of our people in the face of existing challenges, and weakening the positions of our state in the global panorama. The inappropriate behavior and obscene language displayed by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia towards the Holy Church, the continuous threats, and the undisguised attempts to divide the clergy, offend the noble feelings of our believers throughout the world. feelings, as well as a direct violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, and numerous international requirements. The deprivation of liberty of the national benefactor, Mr. Samvel Karapetyan, who spoke out in defense of the Armenian Church, is condemnable. The deliberate disregard by the authorities of the principle of the presumption of innocence in the case of the detained Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and his associates is also unacceptable. With great indignation and pain, we witnessed the invasion of Holy Etchmiadzin by a large number of law enforcement forces on June 27 in order to deprive Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan of his liberty. Contrary to the assurances given that His Holiness would voluntarily appear before the Investigative Committee at the end of the priestly gathering at 4:00 PM, law enforcement officers preferred to implement their plan by using disproportionate force, which rightfully provoked everyone's protest, also hindering the holding of our annual gathering. His Holiness Michael left for the Investigative Committee voluntarily. This encroachment on the Holy Shrine of All Armenians, the disruption of the prayer environment of the sanctuary, and such an attitude towards the Patriarch of All Armenians and the clergy are strictly condemnable and unacceptable. Speech of hostility and hatred, propaganda of discrimination, and calls for various forms of violence are dangerous and destructive and can never bring good to our national and patriotic life. Targeting the hierarchy of the Armenian Church, our cherished values, and sanctities is unacceptable and intolerable, fraught with irreversible consequences for the nation and the future of Armenians. There is no need to expose the homeland and our people to new shocks and disasters. Boldly realizing the mission of the Armenian Church in preserving the unity of our nation, building public solidarity, and strengthening Armenian statehood, as spiritual shepherds we are unwavering in our calling to serve our Savior, our Lord, and the preaching of His life-giving Holy Gospel, the radiance of the spiritual life of the Armenian people, and the defense of the unwavering truth and justice in the national homeland. In the midst of these attacks, together with our communities, we must relentlessly defend the rights of our Holy Church, and also pursue the implementation of justice and the release of the imprisoned Holy Fathers and nationalists. We must unwaveringly continue to enrich faith, hope and love among our people, strengthen loyalty to our Holy Church, national-spiritual values, thanks to which, as in the course of centuries, we will be able to overcome all the difficulties and trials of our lives. We express our filial support to the faithful myron-distributor Holy Etchmiadzin, to the Patriarch of Armenia, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, in these stormy times, as a good and courageous shepherd, to lead the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and all our faithful people to peaceful and safe havens with divine wisdom, calmness and an ever-vigilant spirit. We ask God with trust that May the Lord extend His Most Gracious Right Hand over our people throughout the world, keeping our homeland peaceful and undisturbed, and His Holy Church unbroken and radiant.