Worldwide Armenian Church Leaders Express Dismay in Statement

A distressing episode this week at Armenia’s Sardarabad Memorial drew sharp criticism from the leaders of the Armenian Church’s diasporan dioceses.

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The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reports that on May 28, Armenia’s annual “Republic Day,” His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, led a delegation from the monastic Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin to the Sardarabad Memorial complex, to offer prayers and pay respects to the memory of the heroes who sacrificed in the defense of their homeland during the Battle of Sardarabad in 1918.

Catholicos Karekin II and the Brotherhood routinely undertake this solemn visit every year, as have their predecessors reaching back into the last century.

This year, however, the delegation’s approach to the memorial was impeded by police, who prohibited the clergy’s entry through verbal orders and by physically interposing themselves between the clergy and the monument.

In its release on the incident, the Mother See called the police behavior as “reprehensible” and lamented that it represented “another example of the shameful, anti-national activities of the authorities.”

The Mother See’s release goes on to state that His Holiness was eventually able to enter the memorial complex to raise a prayer for the repose of the martyrs of Sardarabad. It concludes: “May our Heavenly Lord keep Armenia’s independence and statehood unshakeable; may He bless all of our people, and grant them a safe and secure life.”

In response to this news, leaders of the Armenian Church’s worldwide dioceses issued the statement on May 28, expressing concern and distress that police in Armenia had impeded the approach of a delegation of the Catholicos and clergy to visit Armenia’s Sardarabad Memorial. A translation of the statement appears below.

Statement of Diocesan Leaders of the Armenian Church in the Diaspora

We were distressed to learn how police prevented the entourage of the Catholicos of All Armenians from entering the Sardarabad Memorial on May 28, 2024, when the Supreme Patriarch and clergy were visiting the national memorial to pray for the well-being of our homeland, and to honor the memories of the defenders of the Armenian nation.

The victory of Sardarabad was achieved by the collective will of the entire Armenian people: a life-and-death struggle. It is a symbol of the unity, triumph, and awakening of our people, in the construction of which many devoted Armenian clergy participated.

In previous decades, there was never an instance when any Armenian was forbidden to visit the Sardarabad Memorial—especially the Catholicos of All Armenians. In the present case, the government authorities were informed about the Catholicos’ visit well in advance.

Such inappropriate behavior on the part of the police is a dishonor for all Christian Armenians.

“We call on the relevant government bodies to carefully and impartially investigate what happened, and hold to account those complicit in the incident.

May 28, 2024

[Signed]

H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
Primate of the Western Diocese, U.S.A.

H.E. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
Pontifical Mandate of Western Europe

H.E. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
Diocesan Legate of the Eastern Diocese, U.S.A.

H.G. Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
Primate of the Eastern Diocese, U.S.A.

H.G. Bishop Abgar Hovakimian
Primate of the Diocese of Canada

H.E. Archbishop Hagob Kelendjian
Primate of the Diocese of Uruguay

H.G. Bishop Nareg Berberian
Primate of the Diocese of Brazil

V. Rev. Fr. Aren Shahenian
Presiding Vicar of the Diocese of Argentina

H.E. Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian
Primate of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand

H.G. Bishop Hovakim Manougian
Primate of the Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland

V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Khachaturyan
Primate of the Diocese of France

H.G. Bishop Tiran Petrosyan
Pontifical Legate of Central Europe and Scandinavia

H.G. Bishop Datev Hagopian
Primate of the Diocese of Romania

H.G. Bishop Serope Isakhanian
Primate of the Diocese of Germany

H.G. Bishop Vardan Navasardyan
Primate of the Diocese of the Baltic States

V. Rev. Fr. Khoren Arakelian
Presiding Vicar of the Diocese of Greece

V. Rev. Fr. Goussan Aljalian
Presiding Vicar of the Diocese of Switzerland

H.E. Archbishop Yezras Nersissian
Primate of the Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan

H.E. Archbishop Movses Movsesian
Primate of the Diocese of Southern Russia

H.G. Bishop Markos Hovhannisian
Primate of the Diocese of Ukraine

H.G. Bishop Ashod Mnatsaganian
Primate of the Diocese of Egypt

H.G. Bishop Oshagan Gulgulian
Primate of the Diocese of Iraq

H.G. Bishop Armash Nalbandian
Primate of the Diocese of Damascus

H.G. Bishop Kirakos Davtyan
Presiding Vicar of the Diocese of Georgia

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