Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church  condemns Armenian authorities` attempts to discredit  Catholicos of  All Armenians

ArmInfo. The Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) has condemned the anti-church and anti-state activities of Armenian authorities aimed at discrediting His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, by spreading disinformation and manipulating public opinion.

As noted in the diocese's statement, they were particularly outraged  by further false and unfounded reports spread by pro-government media  that the Catholicos of All Armenians could move to Russia and lead  the Armenian Church remotely. The Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese  of the Armenian Apostolic Church expressed its conviction that  representatives of the Armenian government  are the source of such  statements, beginning in 2018 (the rise to power of Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan following the "Velvet Revolution" - ed.), and  continuing to this day.

"His Holiness, as the spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic  Church, has complete control over all processes related to the life  of the Armenian Church. His Holiness, as the popularly elected  Catholicos, was elected by the National Church Council, which  includes clerical and secular representatives. He is the canonically  anointed head of the Armenian Apostolic Church," the diocese  emphasized.

The Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic  Church also expressed its conviction that the purpose of these  attacks is to divide the Armenian Church and then appoint a  Catholicos chosen by the government. "The true goal of the current  Armenian authorities-contrary to the Constitution and current  legislation-is to completely subordinate Church governance to their  authority, thereby destroying the unity of the two-thousand-year-old  Church. Such attempts by the authorities are doomed to complete  failure, as lies cannot triumph over truth and justice. These actions  are directed against the collective identity and unity of the  Armenian people, and against the guardian of the faith-our Holy  Church, founded by God and established by the apostles. Such acts  lead to self-destruction, since those who commit them have no shame  before man and no fear of God," the diocese concluded.

Recall, on December 9, at the initiative of the Diocesan Council of  the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic  Church a  meeting was held at the residence of the diocese in Moscow.   It included clergy, members of the diocesan council, and  representatives of parish councils. A joint statement was adopted as  a result of the meeting.The clergy condemned Armenian Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan's anti-church campaign,  demanding the resignation of  Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.  They called the Prime  Minister's actions anti-national and divisive. They also reaffirmed  their loyalty to the Catholicos of All Armenians.