June 27 of this year will be remembered in the modern history of our nation as a day of national disgrace, due to the shameful actions taken by the Armenian authorities against the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This is stated in a declaration issued by the Mother See.

“As part of a criminal case launched on fabricated grounds, law enforcement officers entered the premises of the Mother See with the aim of detaining and forcefully arresting the Primate of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan.

Large-scale forces blocked entrances to the Mother See, disrupting the normal functioning of the spiritual center of all Armenians.

Obstacles were artificially created for those traveling to Vagharshapat and Holy Etchmiadzin, including inspection checkpoints.

We firmly condemn these anti-Church actions and consider them a sign of deep disrespect toward the Armenian spiritual center—Holy Etchmiadzin—and a grave insult to the religious feelings of the faithful.

The rhetoric of the country’s Prime Minister and various government representatives makes it clear that this premeditated operation is yet another manifestation of the ruling power's policy of persecuting the Church.

It is unimaginable that local authorities would deliver such a blow to Armenia’s ancient national institution—the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. Even foreign rulers in the past have not acted in such a manner.

We call upon our people to stand with the same zeal for the Mother Church and to pray for Holy Etchmiadzin and the peace of our homeland.

The clergy, together with our faithful children, will stand by the Investigative Committee and the court in support of Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan. We await a fair decision by the court.

The Mother See will defend the rights of the Church and the clergy by all legal means,” the statement reads.