Armenian authorities search Catholicos' residence

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II among the faithful. Photo: YouTube screenshot

On the morning of June 27, 2025, masked officers of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) entered the grounds of Etchmiadzin, where a meeting of clergy led by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II was taking place. This was reported by Armenian News – 7or.am.

The target of the security forces was Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan of the Shirak Diocese, who had previously been accused by the authorities of plotting a terrorist act and attempting a violent seizure of power. Since the archbishop was at the Catholicos’s residence during the operation, the security forces initiated searches directly on the Patriarchate’s grounds.

Believers and priests gathered at the gates of the Patriarchate, blocking the security forces from detaining the archbishop. It was reported that during the standoff, Archbishop Mikael’s health deteriorated due to what clergy described as psychological and physical pressure from the security forces.

The situation escalated when NSS officers smashed the window of the Patriarchate’s guard post and entered the grounds despite resistance from laypeople. However, under pressure from the crowd and clergy, the security forces were ultimately forced to leave the Patriarchate.

Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan did not attempt to hide and declared that he was ready to cooperate fully with the authorities.

“I will go with the NSS, and the clergy will follow me,” the archbishop told those gathered.

Commenting on the situation, Catholicos Karekin II said:

“Archbishop Mikael will go with law enforcement officers accompanied by a lawyer, and the rest of the clergy will gather in the Synod. We will meet and coordinate our next steps. We will all make every effort to see justice restored.”

It has been reported that Armenian citizens have been receiving warnings not to approach the city of Etchmiadzin, with access roads effectively blocked.

“All of Armenia’s clergy are ready for arrest,” wrote Hieromonk Asoghik Karapetyan on social media.

Despite checkpoints at the entrances to Etchmiadzin, believers who came to defend the Armenian Apostolic Church declared:

“We will not leave the Church alone. We are with her.”

According to lawyer and public figure Migran Poghosyan, the authorities are restricting access to Etchmiadzin to prevent mass support for the clergy from citizens.

It is worth noting that this security pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church comes amid rapidly deteriorating relations between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Catholicos of All Armenians. Tensions escalated after the clergy sharply condemned the Prime Minister’s policy on Karabakh.

Pashinyan has accused the Armenian Apostolic Church of ties to Russia and of obstructing reforms, claiming that church buildings look more like “storerooms filled with junk.” He has also publicly rebuked the Catholicos for allegedly violating his vow of celibacy.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an Armenian bishop was arrested for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government.

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