The Holy See of Etchmiadzin condemned the holding of a feast in Hovhannavank.

ArmInfo. The Mother See of Etchmiadzin condemned the holding of inappropriate events, in this case a banquet, on the grounds of the Hovhannavank Monastery, noting that this disrupts the monastery's spiritual and prayerful atmosphere and causes nuisance to residents of the surrounding area. This was stated in a statement by the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), published by its press office on its Facebook page.

The AAC expressed its conviction that the current situation is a direct consequence of the open patronage and connivance of the Armenian authorities toward Stepan Asatryan (formerly Priest Aram Asatryan), who was defrocked. This directly violates the laws of the Republic of Armenia and the rights of the Armenian Church. "The seizure of Hovhannavank, as well as the arbitrary actions taking place there, offend the religious feelings of believers and violate their rights, misleading pious visitors through invalid rites and sacraments," the Armenian Apostolic Church stated.

Stressing the unacceptability of such events, the Mother See of Etchmiadzin once again appealed to the competent state authorities to refrain from interfering in church life and restore the legal status of all seized churches.

Yesterday, footage of a feast on the grounds of the Hovhannavank church was circulated on Armenian social media. Citizens were outraged by the music played near the church walls – chanson and criminal songs.

As a reminder, on October 21, 2025, by decree of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, Father Aram Asatryan was declared deposed. The basis for the decision was the commission's findings and the report of the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, which stated that Asatryan's public statements had discredited the church and the clergy. After this, Asatryan openly declared his support for government policies criticizing the clergy. Meanwhile, Asatryan continued to remain in the church and conduct illegal church rites.

It should be added that it was on Asatryan's statement that the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Mkrtich Proshyan, and the abbot of the Surb Gevorg Monastery in Mughni, Aragatsotn Province, Father Garegin Arsenyan, were arrested.