HayaKve files criminal complaint over Hovhannavank liturgy

The HayaKve civic group has filed a criminal complaint with the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office, alleging that an unlawful religious service was held at the Hovhannavank Monastery with the participation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on October 26.

Earlier on October 21, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin announced that Aram Asatryan had been defrocked and would be considered a layman named Stepan Asatryan.

Following the decision, the defrocked priest decided to officiate a liturgy at Hovhannavank on October 26 with Pashinyan, government officials and MPs from the ruling Civil Contract party in attendance. A large number of police officers were deployed near the monastery.

In response, the Mother See issued a statement condemning the service as a “sacrilegious performance” carried out under the guise of a holy liturgy, accusing the authorities of facilitating the monastery’s seizure and obstructing the legitimate clergymen’s duties. The church declared that the liturgy had no spiritual validity and that Hovhannavank would need to be re-consecrated.