The Zhoghovurd newspaper of Armenia writes as follows, in particular: According to the sources of the daily Zhoghovurd, [PM] Nikol Pashinyan’s authorities already have their preferred candidates for a possible successor to the [serving] Catholicos of All Armenians [i.e. Karekin II]. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the [Armenian] Church of the US, and Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, are being considered as the two main candidates, who will maintain loyalty until they see how the situation is resolved.

After the end of Karekin II’s term, the current [Armenian] authorities may secure the new free environment and redistributed influence they envision in the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Let us recall that ArmLur.am yesterday publicized a scenario according to which the removal of Karekin II is already in the process phase.

As our sources report, law-enforcement bodies [of Armenia] have already begun individual “visits” to diocesan primates, including those who had or had not signed the statement disseminated after the bishops’ assembly [recently held at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin].

According to the date presented to ArmLur.am, during meetings with them it is conveyed that “the era of the [serving] Catholicos is over,” and the next steps of action may be the following: possible house arrest or isolation of Karekin II, the arrest of Bishop Arshak [Khachatryan, the chancellor of the Mother See], and finally a resignation letter to be publicized on social media by Karekin II from conditions of isolation—that is, from captivity.

Meanwhile, the Mother See continues to remain silent, neither denying nor confirming this information. Several diocesan primates [of the Armenian Apostolic Church] have already stated that they did not sign under the recently disseminated statement, which has deepened intra-church tension.

A risky phase in church-state relations If the developments described by ArmLur.am continue, then the coming days may become decisive not only for the current Catholicos, but also for the future of the entire Armenian Apostolic Church.

It is in this context that also the names of possible replacements are beginning to be discussed in the authorities’ circles, among whom, according to the sources of the daily Zhoghovurd, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Aram I are receiving the most approval. (...) the Mother See in no way responds to our information about the new anti-church pressures. All that is known is that Pashinyan continues to divide our centuries-old [Armenian Apostolic] church from within, with the participation and efforts of clergymen.