Rector of Saghmosavank Monastery detained in Armenia, head of diocese searched

In Armenia, law enforcement agencies detained the abbot of the Saghmosavank monastery complex. At the same time, it became known that searches were conducted in the house of the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

According to Armenia Today, law enforcement officials detained Priest Aspyurak Mkhitaryan, who is the rector of the monastery. Also, according to the source, the house of the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Archbishop Mkrtich Proshyan, was searched.

At the moment, the official agencies have not provided detailed comments on the reasons for the investigative actions. The circumstances and details of the incident are being clarified.

Recall, earlier we reported that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated the continuation of the campaign aimed at the removal of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II from the throne. The head of the government stressed that the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church (AAC) should return to a «pro-state and state-oriented direction,» which, in his opinion, is impossible without the departure of the current Catholicos. Pashinyan called the initiative a «spiritual and apolitical agenda» but linked it to state security issues, accusing the Church of a centuries-old «imperial logic» that continues under the current Catholicos.