The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople proposed to create a Synod to resolve the crisis around the AAC

The Patriarch of Constantinople of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Archbishop Sahak Mashalyan, has initiated the creation of a special synodal body under the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The proposal is aimed at resolving the deepening crisis in relations between the Church and the Armenian state authorities, which, in his opinion, is aggravated by internal political tension and the approaching elections.

According to Sputnik Armenia, Archbishop Mashalyan expressed deep concern over the arrests of members of the clergy and the public confrontation between the Church and the state. He said this in his address to the participants of the bishops’ meeting held in Austria, emphasizing the need to observe church discipline and search for balanced solutions.

Mashalyan suggested forming a synodal body of 12 senior bishops, which could temporarily contribute to the governance of the Church and strengthen the position of the Catholicos. According to him, the synodal format could become a transitional mechanism until the convening of the National Church Council, the only Church-wide body authorized to consider the status of the Catholicos. He also proposed to immediately decide on the date of the National Church Council and form an organizing committee for its preparation.

It is noted that a similar idea was previously expressed by Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, but was not realized. Mashalyan believes that the current composition of the Supreme Spiritual Council has lost its authority, and its recent decisions have only intensified the confrontation.

Mashalyan is convinced that the situation around the Church is directly related to the internal political tension in Armenia and the upcoming elections. In his opinion, the confrontation between the authorities and the Mother See of Echmiadzin has led to the weakening of Church institutions. He also emphasized that almost all Dioceses of the Diaspora, where the political campaign against the Catholicos is particularly visible, have already appealed to the Supreme Patriarch for church unity and support.

Mashalyan figuratively compared the situation in Armenia to a vessel in which a hundred black and red ants are placed: «as long as they are calm, everyone lives peacefully, but if you shake the vessel, chaos begins.» He expressed confidence that the authorities and the opposition in Armenia are feuding without thinking about the true causes of the conflict, seeing the problem only in each other. In conclusion, he reminded that Armenians have only two sacred places — the Church and Armenia, emphasizing the importance of the speedy resolution of the current problems.

To remind, earlier we reported that the bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), gathered in Austria, issued a statement reaffirming their loyalty to Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This important event took place against the backdrop of increasing repression by the Armenian authorities against the Church and the arrests of a number of its hierarchs.