Their Holinesses Michael and Bagrat appealed to His Holiness Karekin II, demanding the deposition of 10 traitor bishops. They announced this in a new statement.
The scandal that erupted after the statement published on November 27, as well as subsequent events, compel us to make the following statements with deep sorrow:
a/ 10 of the 57 members of the Episcopal College of the Mother See have officially declared their unwillingness to be part of our brotherhood. Therefore, we recognize them as strangers and aliens, towards whom, unfortunately, we have cherished fraternal feelings for 20-40 years, as we have repeatedly demonstrated in deed and word; The decision was yours, don’t blame us…
b/ What was committed was a treacherous and vile betrayal of the highest order, conspiratorial and vile, abhorrent even to laymen, let alone high-ranking clergy. They could have done everything openly, through church authorities, expressing their dissatisfaction and demands, even presenting an ultimatum to His Holiness the Patriarch, but they preferred to act secretly and covertly, like ordinary people. Conspirators.
c/ Each of them missed no opportunity to flatter His Holiness the Patriarch, before our eyes and in our presence, taking advantage of His paternal care, through which they received the highest titles and positions in the Church, being completely unworthy of the positions they occupied, as their shameful act eloquently testifies. If His Holiness erred in anything, it was in trusting them, taking upon himself the many and varied sins they had committed and leaving them under his paternal care.
d/ At least six bishops participated in the 1999 National Church Council and openly voted for the current Patriarch, something they proudly declared for 26 years, not forgetting to ridicule those clergy who, even without participating in the elections, ever expressed a positive opinion of other candidates for this position.
e/ The remaining four bishops enjoyed the Patriarch’s care from their student years to their priesthood and episcopacy, thanks to which they achieved promotion from the same Patriarch, receiving episcopal ordination and ordination. This speaks volumes about their character.
f/ It is possible, necessary, perhaps even essential, to disagree with His Holiness the Patriarch on everything, something they have never done over the past 26 years. On the contrary, they have groveled, while we have done so many times, exposing ourselves to the Patriarch’s reproaches and displeasure. After 26 years of continuous coquetry, groveling before irreverent and treasonous rulers to save one’s own skin and defend some vague “principles” with the number one unprincipled man in the country is self-destruction. Truly, like attracts like; treason attracts treason; Judas attracts the Nicolaitans.
g/ The traitors have created a situation unprecedented in the Armenian Church, even in the last 200 years. Therefore, an unprecedented response and reaction is necessary. A perversion, a perversion, as the proverb goes.
We ask and propose to His Holiness the Patriarch:
1. Terminate the authority of the schismatic and disobedient leaders, who have already condemned themselves by their behavior.
2. Immediately appoint new leaders in these dioceses.
3. Convene a meeting of bishops, ensuring the participation of our three holy men, or after our release.
4. After the meeting of bishops, it will be possible to convene a National Church Council.
We appeal to the priests of these dioceses: you are obligated to no longer submit to your schismatic leaders and to declare your allegiance to His Holiness from the moment of your birth and to follow the instructions of His Holiness the Patriarch.
h/ And finally, we wish to express the hope that some of the traitors will follow the path of Peter and, with bitter tears, attempt to remain clergy and repent, while others will suffer the fate of Judas.
Priests and people, remain faithful to our Holy Church and the anointed Patriarch of the Armenians. This is a time of trial and testing for us all. Evil roars to devour each and every one of us and all of us together. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us that it might be made clear that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:12).
“Be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord, rejoice in hope, endure in tribulations, and pray without ceasing… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:11-13, 21).
H.K.: God forbid that it should ever be revealed that the conspirators also played a role in our imprisonment and in the imprisonment of Mkrtich Sbazan, as there is every reason to suspect.”
November 30, 2025