The Primate and Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of Canada have condemned the criminal prosecution of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and called on Armenian authorities to immediately terminate proceedings concerning the internal jurisdiction of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The statement notes that the Catholicos is the lawfully elected and consecrated Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians.
“His Grace Bishop Abgar Hovakimyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada, and the Diocesan Council issue this official statement strongly condemning the decision by Armenia’s law enforcement and judicial authorities to initiate criminal prosecution against Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II over matters that fall exclusively within the internal disciplinary, administrative and ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Through this statement, we reaffirm our respect for the sovereignty, constitutional order and legitimate state authorities of the Republic of Armenia. At the same time, we emphasize that the Catholicos of All Armenians is the lawfully elected and consecrated Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians, whose spiritual ministry and administrative powers are governed by the sacred Tradition and canons of the Church and the internal canonical order of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.
Article 18 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia recognizes the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, the development of national culture and the preservation of national identity, while also guaranteeing the Church’s right to self-governance. This principle is also consistent with fundamental norms of international law, particularly the relevant provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect the autonomy of religious organizations and oblige the state to refrain from interfering in their internal affairs.
Therefore, any attempt to bring matters of ecclesiastical discipline, hierarchical structure or spiritual governance into the sphere of criminal or civil jurisdiction constitutes an unjustified application of legal authority that contradicts established principles governing Church-state relations and violates the constitutional and international legal guarantees of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s autonomy.
As citizens of Canada, a country whose legal system is founded on the rule of law, constitutional principles and the protection of fundamental freedoms, we reaffirm our conviction that state authorities are obliged to respect the autonomy and internal independence of religious institutions. Initiating criminal prosecution against the spiritual leader of the Armenian Church over matters concerning the Church’s internal governance creates a dangerous precedent that could undermine the legal protection of religious freedom.
Amid the serious geopolitical and security challenges facing our people, state stability and national cohesion are possible only by remaining faithful to the letter and spirit of the Constitution and by preserving mutual respect and autonomy between the state and the Church.
We therefore call on the competent state and law enforcement authorities of the Republic of Armenia to:
- exercise sound legal judgment and immediately terminate criminal proceedings concerning the Church’s internal jurisdiction;
- unconditionally uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution and international law, respecting the autonomy and canonical order of the Armenian Apostolic Church;
- reaffirm their commitment to constructive dialogue for the benefit of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the rule of law and the strengthening of national unity in Armenia and the Diaspora,” the statement said.
