Armenian premier`s `roadmap` for AAC improvement high treason -  Pan-Armenian Council for Preservation of Armenian Church

ArmInfo.  The Pan-Armenian Council for the Preservation of the Armenian Church has called the "roadmap for improvement" of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC),  signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and 10 bishops who have  joined the country's government's anti- church campaign, an act of  treason.

As noted in the Council's statement, the creation of the so-called  "Coordination Council" and the proposed "roadmap" represent an  attempt at an illegal and unconstitutional coup within the Church.  The Pan- Armenian Council expressed its conviction that what is  happening is not simply interference, but an open declaration of war  against the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), the foundations of  national identity, and statehood. "We declare without equivocation:  this is a step tantamount to high treason on a spiritual level.  An  attempt is being made to undermine the authority of the Armenian  Church, devalue the institution of Catholicos of All Armenians  Garegin II, and transform the AAC into a government 'office.' This  attack on centuries-old sacred sites is fraught with irreversible  consequences, such as national schism and clashes," the statement  reads.

The Council condemned the authorities' actions, calling the Armenian  Prime Minister's statements encouraging citizens to desecrate church  rites unacceptable and immoral. "This is spiritual terror against the  faith of their own people. Attempts to erase the boundaries between  the state and the AAC lead to a dictatorship, where even a person's  conscience and faith must be subordinated to political expediency. We  also note with particular disgust the behavior of bishops who, having  forgotten their oath before God, have become instruments of political  intrigue," the statement emphasizes.

Furthermore, the Pan-Armenian Council condemned the actions of Father  Gusan Alchanyan, the rector of the Armenian Diocese in Switzerland,  who joined this anti-church campaign, calling them a betrayal. "No  one believes your version of events; you understand perfectly well  that by accepting the schismatic 'roadmap,' you are not reforming,  but rather striking a blow to the Mother Church. History and future  generations will not forgive this renunciation," the Pan-Armenian  Council asserts.

In light of the above, the Council demanded that the Armenian Prime  Minister and his regime distance themselves from the Armenian Church.  "Stop playing dirty and using state levers of influence on the  spiritual structure.

Every step you take aimed at dividing the Church is considered a  crime against statehood," the Council emphasized.

Furthermore, the Pan-Armenian Council for the Preservation of the  Armenian Church called on the clergy to be sober. "Leave this  self-proclaimed group before it's too late. Don't become the cause of  schism; don't sell your soul to the devil. Otherwise, you will bear  full responsibility before both the earthly and heavenly courts," the  Council urged.

In conclusion, the Pan-Armenian Council called on the Armenian people  to awaken, noting that this is not politics, but a struggle to  preserve national identity. "Our silence today will be our  destruction tomorrow.  We will not allow national traitors to  desecrate the temple of our faith. Anyone who raises a hand against  the church will remain under the rubble," the Council concluded.

As a reminder, in May, the Armenian Prime Minister launched a  campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church. As part of this  campaign, on January 5, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the  so-called "roadmap for the improvement" of the Armenian Apostolic  Church with 10 rebellious bishops the night before. The "roadmap"  consists of ten points: publicly announcing a reform program;  removing the current Catholicos of All Armenians; electing a locum  tenens of the patriarchal throne; adopting a Church Charter, which  should establish "mechanisms for maintaining established principles,  ensuring financial transparency and proper conduct of the clergy";  and electing the Catholicos of All Armenians "in accordance with the  established procedure." It should be noted that, according to the  Constitution of Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Church is separate  from the state. Moreover, the Catholicos is elected by the National  Spiritual Council for a life term.