Statement of the Assyrian Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East on unconditional support for the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The Assyrian Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East is deeply concerned about the recent actions of the Armenian authorities against the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.
On behalf of the Assyrian Orthodox Church and the members of the Holy Synod, His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II expresses his unconditional and profound fraternal support to His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the faithful in this difficult and trying time.
As the oldest institution in Armenia, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is of great spiritual, historical and national importance not only for the Armenian people but also for the entire family of the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Any attempt to denigrate its sanctity, disrupt its internal governance or persecute its clergy is a serious violation of religious freedom and the integrity of the Church.
Arrests of bishops and priests, encroachments on holy places and interference in the canonical life of the Church can undermine the spiritual foundations of the nation and the sacred idea of the independence of the Church.
The Assyrian Orthodox Church strongly condemns such actions and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to defending the principles of religious freedom and the sovereignty of the Church.
We pray for peace, wisdom and strength for the Armenian Church.
“We call on the Armenian authorities to dialogue and to treat with respect and justice the sacred institutions that have created and preserved the Christian heritage for centuries.”