More than a dozen criminal proceedings have been initiated against the Armenian Apostolic Church, and it is certain that every effort is being made to subordinate the church to the Armenian authorities’ will and to achieve their goal of removing the Catholicos of All Armenians from his post, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II stated during a meeting with several editors Tuesday.

“If they [i.e. the Armenian authorities] resort to such action to achieve that goal and arrest the Armenian Patriarch, of course we [i.e. the Catholicos means himself] shall obey the current law. If it is unjust, naturally, we shall use all means so that justice prevails, injustice is not implemented. If we fail, naturally, as in the case of our other clergy, we are also ready to bear that unjust decision and sentence. But in no way will our position change, we will continue to remain faithful to the covenant, our service, our nation and homeland, loyal to the protection of the autonomy of our [Armenian Apostolic] Church,” said Karekin II.

And when asked if the Armenian authorities succeed in removing him from his patriarchal seat and arresting him, will it be a personal defeat or a blow to the entire Armenian Apostolic Church and its faithful, the Catholicos of All Armenians replied: “It is not so easy to force the resignation of the Armenian Patriarch. The [Armenian Apostolic] Church has its canonical principles, and the dismissal of the Armenian Patriarch is not subject to the control of any authority, any person or structure. If there are issues against the Armenian Patriarch or any clergyman [of the Armenian Apostolic Church], these issues are discussed in the appropriate instances and appropriate decisions are made. Therefore, we will defend these principles with all our might, and we will not succumb to any pressure or violence.”