Armenian archbishop accuses Church of using “army of fakes” to attack people

Armenian Archbishop, head of the Masis Diocese, Gevorg Saroyan, has stated that Etchmiadzin (or Church) operates a vast “army of fakes” used to attack individuals.

“During the speech by ‘Bagrat Srbazan’ [leader of the revanchist movement Holy Struggle — ed.], 20 out of 24 bishops spoke out against him launching these actions, but it did not influence the decision. I personally told the Catholicos [Garegin II — ed.] several times that dragging the Church into politics is unacceptable,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Saroyan elaborated on why formal restrictions on Bagrat were insufficient: “Yes, he supposedly ‘froze’ Bagrat’s service, but when a man in clerical robes is organising rallies, no one will believe that the movement is driven by an individual rather than the Church. Many people joined this movement out of respect for the robe, assuming it was the Church’s initiative, even though I repeatedly said that it is not the Church!”

The head of the Masis Diocese recounted his own experience being drawn into politically charged events: I myself was sent to a rally and told that I had to take the stage and give a speech in support of Samvel Karapetyan [a Russian oligarch — ed.]. I did it, although I do not even know Samvel Karapetyan, and I realised how unacceptable this is—it affects how people see you, the community may reject you, and people begin to treat you differently, not as a servant of God.”

He continued, describing his refusal to participate a second time: “The second time they told me again to take part in their rally, I flatly refused, because this is a path to self-destruction. The Church has no right to take this or that side; we must serve everyone.”

“I personally asked the Catholicos several times not to involve the Church in politics, stressing how unacceptable such actions are and how they destroy the Church!”

By Khagan Isayev