Police block priest from entering church amid tensions in Armenia's Talin

Police cordoned off the entrance to the Holy Mother of God Church in the Armenian town of Talin on Tuesday, preventing a priest recognized by the Armenian Apostolic Church from entering the building.

News.am reported that officers surrounded the church as tensions flared over who would lead the service. Earlier, Talin Mayor Tavros Sapeyan said that the liturgy would be conducted by a defrocked priest, Tadeh, who now goes by his secular name, Aramais Takhmazyan.

A priest at the scene said the day marked a feast of peace and urged worshippers to pray together, adding that they would leave afterward.

Sapeyan was present in the church courtyard and said the church had a cleric assigned for the service. “With all due respect to Fr. Hayk, he cannot enter the church,” he said.

Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan was also present near the church.

The priests and their supporters decided to move toward the church in Mastara to avoid clashes.