Tensions Escalate at Holy Etchmiadzin Over Arrest Attempt of Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian

OCP News Service & Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin– 28/06/2025

Yerevan-Armenia: In a significant development that has drawn widespread attention, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was briefly detained by masked officers of the National Security Service (NSS) at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on Friday, June 27. The attempted arrest was interrupted when a group of concerned citizens intervened at the gates of the monastery, compelling authorities to release the Archbishop and allow him to return to the Church premises.

The arrest operation was reportedly carried out in connection with ongoing criminal proceedings under Article 422, Part 2 of Armenia’s Criminal Code, which pertains to public calls for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order. The charges stem from a media interview conducted on February 3, 2024, in which the Archbishop allegedly made politically sensitive statements. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has submitted a request for pretrial detention, with a court decision expected within twenty-four hours.

Prior to his detention, Archbishop Ajapahian addressed members of the press and stated that he would not avoid legal procedures. However, he firmly rejected the legitimacy of the charges, saying, “I am not a threat to the country; the threat lies elsewhere.” His legal representative, Mr. Ara Zohrabyan, described the accusations as unfounded and lacking the legal elements required to constitute a criminal offense. He further alleged that the action was part of a broader campaign targeting the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Earlier on the same day, approximately thirty masked agents reportedly entered the headquarters of the Shirak Diocese as part of the investigation. The incident, particularly its occurrence at the spiritual heart of the Armenian Church, has raised serious concerns regarding the state’s approach to ecclesiastical autonomy and religious freedom.

Mr. Zohrabyan also criticized statements made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the incident, characterizing them as inappropriate and politically motivated. He emphasized that Archbishop Ajapahian has no political ambitions and has called upon political actors to refrain from using his name in any partisan context.

The attempted detention at Holy Etchmiadzin, widely regarded as the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has sparked both domestic and international concern. Church leaders, theologians, and human rights observers have expressed alarm over what they consider an unprecedented intrusion by state authorities into the affairs of an independent religious institution.

The situation remains ongoing, with the faithful and the broader Orthodox Christian community closely observing the legal process and its implications for Church–state relations in Armenia.

Source:

OCP News Service