The head of Armenia’s influential Apostolic Church made a court appearance Friday in connection with charges that he and six other senior clergy members refused to comply with a judicial order mandating the reinstatement of a defrocked bishop. The defendants face potential prison sentences of up to two years if convicted.
The trial represents the latest escalation in deteriorating relations between the church institution and the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Tensions have intensified significantly since 2024, when large-scale demonstrations led by church clergy called for the prime minister’s removal. Those protests were motivated by opposition to Armenia’s agreement to cede control of border villages to Azerbaijan and establish normalized relations with the neighboring country, following decades of territorial conflict. Church leadership has been critical of these agreements and of Pashinyan’s broader political direction.
The specific charges stem from January, when the church defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, citing abuse of power. Saroyan contested the defrocking in court, which ruled in his favor and ordered his reinstatement. The church refused to comply, leading Armenia’s Prosecutor General to initiate proceedings in February. The case has drawn significant public attention, with hundreds of supporters gathering outside the courthouse in Vagharshapat, Armenia’s spiritual capital.
The confrontation between the church and government has affected multiple clergy members. Two other senior church officials faced legal action in previous months on charges related to opposition activities. During a service, Karekin stated that current authorities are taking steps to undermine the church’s independence and authority. Church representatives have characterized the proceedings as an attempt to subordinate the institution to government control.
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