These processes offend not only the Congregation of the Mother See, but also Armenian E

The Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul issued a statement, which says:

It is a well-known fact that the negative position adopted towards the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in the recent period has caused deep pain and hurt in our believing people of Armenia and the Diaspora.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has been the beacon of faith of our people and a strong pillar of national and spiritual union for centuries. The Armenian Church with all its endowment, headed by H.S.O.T.T. Garegin B. The Archbishop of All Armenians and His Holiness the Patriarch continues his Christ-believing, nation-loving and nation-building mission.

In this regard, resorting to legal proceedings against the His Holiness the Patriarch of All Armenians and the sacred bishops of the Church and calling them before the secular authorities on the charges of criminal offenses deeply offends the dignity of the Armenian Church. This pain deepens when the guarantees given to the mission of the Church and the basic principles of human rights in the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia seem to be neglected.

Even in the diaspora, the Armenian Church continues to play a key role in the spiritual, national and community life of our people. Therefore, any step aimed at weakening the authority of the Mother See or offending its integrity damages the centuries-old ties between the Church and the believing people.
History testifies that the Armenian Apostolic Church was one of the indestructible pillars of our nation during the times when it was deprived of statehood. With his inner gift, he regulated and continues to regulate the preaching of the Holy Gospel, spiritual service, comforting, charitable and national missions. Therefore, we find it inappropriate and offensive to look for a crime in the voice raised by the His Holiness the Patriarch of All Armenians and the church authority about the issues related to the Church.

These processes offend not only the congregation of the Mother See, but also the new republican Sees of the Armenian Church, the clergy and inter-church relations, which nowadays must remain strong in order to testify to Christ’s love and brotherhood.

Therefore, as the Armenian Patriarchal See of Turkey, we express our solidarity with H.S.O.T. Garegin B. To His Holiness the Patriarch and the holy bishops of all Armenians. We urge all those responsible to keep the Armenian Church invulnerable and not to turn the decisions of official church bodies into secular judicial conflicts.

We believe in the words of the Holy Book. “I will trust in the Lord…even if I remain in darkness, the Lord is my light” (Micah 7:7-8). With this faith, we trust that God will touch the hearts and with His power the ship of the Church will be guided to the harbor of peace.

Our heartfelt prayer is for His Holiness the Patriarch of All Armenians, the Supreme Spiritual Council, the regents of the Imperial Chairs, the entire spiritual class, the faithful people and the officials of the Republic of Armenia. May the Lord give everyone wisdom, strengthen His Holy Church and grant peace to our people.

PATRIARCHY OF ARMENIAN TURKEY

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