Edmon Marukyan urges Catholicos to defrock Navasard Kchoyan, Primate  of Ararat Diocese 

ArmInfo. Edmon Marukyan, leader of the "Bright Armenia" party and former  Ambassador-at-Large, called on Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II  to defrock Primate of the Ararat Diocese Navasard Kchoyan.

On his Facebook page, Marukyan recalled that a group of 10 clergymen  had appealed to the Patriarch, calling on him to resign in the name  of  purifying the Church and upholding justice. They also demanded  new elections for the Catholicos. "It's surprising that Navasard  Kchoyan, who is well-known for his preference for Bentleys, diamonds,  and other precious jewelry, is among the signatories. Not to mention  the numerous offshore scandals, this priest has never been defrocked  or sent to the remote churches of the Ararat Diocese. The reason for  such a liberal approach toward Navasard Kchoyan remains unknown," the  politician emphasized.

He added that the people no longer recognize Kchoyan, and his  leadership of the largest diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church is  causing surprise. Marukyan emphasized that the cleric's removal would  put Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his team in an awkward  position, forcing them to defend a man who lacks public recognition.  Marukyan appealed to the Catholicos to declare Kchoyan a defrocked  priest, in order to see how the representatives of the "Civil  Contract," who are "renewing" the Church, will defend the defrocked  clergyman.