Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin: June 27 of this year will be  remembered as a day of national disgrace

ArmInfo. June 27 of this year will be remembered in the modern history of our people as a day of national disgrace due to the shameful actions taken by the Armenian authorities against the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This is noted in a new statement by the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin regarding the situation around Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian.

" Within the framework of the criminal proceedings initiated on the  grounds of the building, representatives of law enforcement agencies  entered the territory of the Mother See with the aim of arresting and  forcibly detaining the Primate of the Shirak Diocese, Archbishop  Mikayel Ajapahyan. During that time, large-scale forces blocked the  entrances to the Mother See and disrupted the normal life of the  spiritual center of all Armenians. Artificial obstacles were also  created for those traveling to Vagharshapat and Holy Etchmiadzin, and  checks were even conducted. We strongly condemn the initiated  anti-church actions and assess them as disrespect for the Armenian  spiritual center, the Holy Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as  a grave insult to the spiritual feelings of believers. 

It is obvious from the rhetoric of both the country's Prime Minister  and various representatives of the government that this planned  action is another manifestation of the ruling power's church-melting  policy. It was never possible to imagine that the native authorities  would be capable of inflicting such a conspiratorial blow on the  ancient national institution of Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Holy  Church, in a way that even foreign rulers of the time did not act. We  call on the children of our people to continue to stand with the same  zeal next to the Mother Church and pray for the radiance of Holy  Etchmiadzin and the peace of our homeland. The clergy, together with  our faithful children, in support of Archbishop Michael Ajapahyan,  will be at the places of the Investigative Committee and the court.  We expect a fair decision from the court. The Mother See will fight  for the protection of the rights of the Church and the clergy by  using all legal means," the statement reads.