The Mother See of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Etchmiadzin) has vowed to take all legal measures to reclaim the historic Hovhannavank Monastery, which it says has been unlawfully seized by a defrocked priest and pro-government groups with the direct involvement of law enforcement bodies, in what the Church describes as the latest escalation of state persecution against Armenia’s national Church.
The Church condemned what it called the ongoing persecutions against the Armenian Apostolic Church by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia, saying these have resulted in new unlawful acts in recent days. According to Etchmiadzin, the monastery’s seizure followed a “sacrilegious staging” carried out under the guise of a so-called Divine Liturgy, with the direct involvement of law enforcement bodies and other obstructing groups. As a result, the ministry of the canonically appointed priests—Rev. Fr. Sargis Sargsyan and Rev. Fr. Manuk Zeynalayan—was forcibly halted, while threats and calls for violence were voiced against them by those same groups.
The Hovhannavank Monastery, located in the Aragatsotn Diocese approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Yerevan, has become the focal point of a growing dispute between the Church and the government.
Last Sunday, defrocked Father Aram Asatryan officiated a divine liturgy at the monastery attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and several cabinet members. Days earlier, the Church had defrocked Asatryan, whose lay name is Stepan Asatryan, following his public claims in September that he and other clergy had been coerced by Church officials to attend anti-government rallies in 2021. Despite his defrocking, Asatryan has rejected the decision and refused to hand over the keys to the monastery, reportedly changing its main door locks and preventing legitimate clergy from entering.
Clergy say police officers stationed at the site refused to assist Church representatives seeking access, claiming they were deployed “to prevent clashes.” The Armenian Interior Ministry has declined to comment on why the police have not enabled the Church to reclaim the monastery.
Etchmiadzin’s statement declared that the actions carried out in Hovhannavank under the appearance of worship and under the patronage of the authorities constitute a desecration, possess no spiritual validity, and are null and void. “We deem it necessary to state that the actions being conducted in Hovhannavank under the appearance of worship and under the patronage of the authorities constitute a desecration, possess no spiritual validity, and are null and void. Accordingly, the Church of Hovhannavank is subject to re-consecration,” the statement reads.
The Church accused Prime Minister Pashinyan of attempting to create division within the Armenian Apostolic Church. His public participation in ceremonies led by a defrocked priest, it said, represents an unprecedented challenge to ecclesiastical order. Pashinyan reportedly described the October 26 ceremony as the “start of the practical phase of the liberation process of the Mother See” and has announced plans to attend another liturgy at Hovhannavank on November 2.
Etchmiadzin emphasized that it will seek, by all means provided by law, the restoration of its rightful authority over the Church of Hovhannavank; the elimination of violations against freedom of conscience; the protection of the spiritual and canonical life of the faithful; and the safeguarding of the unhindered ministry of the clergy.
Etchmiadzin concluded the statement with a prayer: “We pray that Almighty God preserve our country in peace and security, and keep our Holy Church steadfast. Amen.”
