The criminal trial of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and six high-ranking clergymen of the Armenian Apostolic Church has resumed.

The case is being heard in the Vagharshapat city—better known as Ejmiatsin—court, presided over by Judge Serzh Rushanyan.

The defendants include Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Archbishop Haigazun Najarian, Bishop Moushegh Babayan, Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan, Bishop Makar Hakobyan, and Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian.

The Catholicos and these high-ranking clergymen, however, will not attend this court hearing, in accordance with Section 4 of Article 272 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia.

The defense attorneys will attend this hearing.

The first hearing took place two weeks ago, during which presiding Judge Hakob Manukyan recused himself.

The Catholicos of All Armenians is charged with using his official powers, being also the chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church, of allegedly obstructing the execution of a legally binding judicial act: a decision of the Armavir provincial court. The decision of the Catholicos of All Armenians to recognize the former Primate of the Diocese of Masis of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan—now Arman Saroyan—as a defrocked bishop, was assessed as such obstruction.