“To gather around the church and conclude the year with prayer”: The last liturgy of the year to be held this Sunday

This Sunday will mark the final liturgy of the year. The service at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin will be celebrated by Very Rev. Zakaria Baghumyan, Director of the Christian Education Center of the Mother See.

A few days earlier, 24News.am reported, citing its sources, that on December 28 Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is allegedly preparing to “finally resolve” the issue of the Mother See and has already instructed law enforcement agencies accordingly. According to the outlet, he plans to visit the Mother See accompanied by his supporters, apostate bishops, and former clergymen, attend the liturgy, and seek to force the Catholicos of All Armenians to leave the Patriarchate and “be called to rest.”

Aysor.am attempted to clarify these reports with Nikol Pashinyan’s press secretary, asking whether the Prime Minister indeed plans to visit the Mother See this Sunday. However, repeated phone calls went unanswered.

In an interview with Aysor.am, Father Zakaria Baghumyan stated that the liturgy will be conducted in the usual manner, as it has been on all Sundays throughout the year.

“We will proceed as we always do; there is no special preparation,” Father Zakaria said.

Given that law enforcement officers often visit churches ahead of the Prime Minister’s appearances, Aysor.am also asked Father Yesayi Artenyan, Director of the Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, whether any such visits had taken place in recent days. Father Yesayi responded that no law enforcement presence had been observed.

“There is peace in the Mother See,” Father Yesayi noted.

The Mother See has called on the faithful to unite around the Church and conclude the year in prayer.