“Everyone is waiting for the outcome of the elections:” Father Ruben says the situation in the Masyatsotn Diocese has recently remained calm

The former head of the Masyatsotn Diocese, the deposed Arman Saroyan, continues to “persecute” the priests of the diocese.

During a meeting with journalists, the diocesan vicar, Father Ruben Vardapet Zargaryan, stated that two more such incidents had been recorded, in which notices were sent to priests claiming they had been removed from their pastoral duties.

“There were threats directed at candle sellers, even extending to their families. Recently, however, the situation has been calm. For some reason, everyone is waiting for the outcome of the elections. Meanwhile, the doctrine of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, which also includes Orthodox ecclesiology, is not conditioned by elections. If there are clergy members who believe we should wait for the elections, then for them the doctrine of the Church is subject to change,” he said in response to a question from Aysor.am.

The priests of the Masyatsotn Diocese had earlier issued a statement saying that, regardless of the various pressures exerted on them, they do not recognize Arman Saroyan as their diocesan leader.