Armenian hieromonk threatens retribution for planned police raid on Etchmiadzin PHOTO

Armenian hieromonk Asoghik Karapetyan has publicly cursed anyone who dares to enter the grounds of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church and residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians—Armenian media report.

The statement comes amid social media rumours suggesting that law enforcement agencies are planning to carry out an operation on the premises of Holy Etchmiadzin on July 9 morning, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

"By the authority of the priestly rank given to me, and in accordance with the divine command which says: ‘If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’ (Gospel of John), I denounce and curse all those who, having sold their souls to Satan, dare to invade the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—be it this bright morning or at any time—thus defiling the Armenian Patriarchate, raising their sword against the clergy and God’s Anointed, the Catholicos of All Armenians, and trampling on the sacred relics of the Armenian people,” the cleric declared.

Karapetyan warned that any incursion onto the grounds of Holy Etchmiadzin would be a desecration of all that is sacred to the Armenian nation.

On June 27, Armenian National Security Service (NSS) officers attempted to enter Etchmiadzin to detain Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese, on charges of calling for the overthrow of the government. The operation led to a scuffle between law enforcement, clergy, and worshippers, who resisted the arrest. The Mother See condemned the incident as a “day of national disgrace,” accusing the authorities of disrespecting the Church and its faithful.

By Khagan Isayev