The Zhoghovurd newspaper of Armenia writes as follows, in particular:

According to the information of the Zhoghovurd daily, the bishops’ assembly held yesterday at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin had more of an “educative” character. The reason is that a group of bishops has formed who have begun to support [PM] Nikol Pashinyan—in other words, they have taken his side and are doing everything to create tension within the [Armenian Apostolic] church. Our sources report that during this time the Catholicos of All Armenians [Karekin II] is also doing everything possible to restore internal church harmony, to prevent a situation of [clergy] turning against one another.

According to our sources, in the recent period the Catholicos has been having almost daily individual conversations with all the bishops, explaining that they should not give in to provocations by the authorities or “break apart” the [Armenian Apostolic] church from within. Our sources note, however, that Nikol Pashinyan has succeeded in turning a group of bishops already against the Catholicos. Yesterday at the bishops’ assembly, the Catholicos again spoke about reconciliation, unity.

He admonished those bishops, during liturgies celebrated with their participation and in the presence of Pashinyan, the respective parts of the prayer or commemoration referring to the Catholicos are omitted. Our sources note that the Catholicos has urged them to follow the liturgy performed by the priests so that they observe all the rules; otherwise, the priests who violate [Armenian Apostolic] church regulations will also be defrocked.