Pro-Pashinyan bishop sues Armenian Apostolic Church over dismissal

Bishop Gevorg Saroyan has filed a lawsuit against the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, seeking revocation of his dismissal as primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese encompassing the town of Masis and other parts of Ararat Province, court records show.

Saroyan is one of the ten senior clerics who joined Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s campaign to oust Catholicos Karekin II and “reform” the church in late November.

According to the DataLex judicial database, Saroyan filed the claim on January 15 with a court in Armavir. He is challenging the January 10 patriarchal decree issued by Karekin II, which dismissed him from his post, and is seeking reinstatement as diocesan head.

The case has been assigned to judge Edgar Hovhannisyan.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin said the dismissal was based on abuse of authority, failure to fulfill duties and coercion and pressure against clergy within the diocese.

Following Saroyan’s removal, Archimandrite Ruben Zargaryan was appointed acting head of the Masyatsotn Diocese.