Mother See seeking to  restore its rights to  Hovhannavank Monastery  through all legal means - Armenian Apostolic Church

ArmInfo.The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin will seek, through all legal means, to restore its rights to the Hovhannavank Monastery in the Aragatsotn  region, eliminate the consequences of infringements on freedom of conscience, protect the spiritual and canonical life of believers, and ensure the normal ministry of the clergy, as noted in a statement issued by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The Armenian Apostolic Church emphasized that the ongoing persecution  of the Church by  Armenian authorities has taken on new,  unprecedented forms in recent days.

"Following the sacrilegious staging of the Holy Liturgy at the  Hovhannavank Monastery of the Aragatsotn Diocese, with the direct  involvement of law enforcement agencies and obstructionist groups,  the Hovhannavank Monastery was seized, resulting in the disruption of  the spiritual services of the priests appointed there-Father Sargis  Sargsyan and Father Manuk Zeynalyan. At the same time, obstructionist  groups are issuing threats and calls for violence against the  appointed clergy," the Echmiadzin Church stated.

Additionally, the Armenian Apostolic Church noted that the actions  carried out at the Hovhannavank Monastery, under the auspices of the  authorities and under the guise of rituals, are considered  desecration, have no spiritual value, and are deemed invalid, and  that the Hovhannavank Church must undergo  a reconsecration.