On June 25, Armenia’s government security arrested Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, age 54, of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the main religious community of the country and part of the ancient Eastern Orthodox family of churches. He is an Armenian prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with dual Armenian-Canadian citizenship, who is bishop of the Diocese of Tavush. He also served as primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada based in Montreal from May 2003 to May 2013.
A government committee accused the archbishop and 15 others of plotting to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan through attacks on power supplies and transportation, charges the archbishop’s legal counsel, Sergei Harutyunyan, has denied. The Associated Press quoted the archbishop saying, “I have never hidden and I am not going to hide now. I say that what is happening now is lawlessness. I have never been and am not a threat to this country, the main threat is in the government.” The Armenian Apostolic Church issued two statements condemning the arrests; see full text below the video:
STATEMENT by the Armeninian Church:
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Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemns the June 28 court decision ordering the arrest and imprisonment of His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese. This ruling is a direct result of the anti-Church policies pursued by the Prime Minister and other high-ranking government officials, as well as their rhetoric of hostility and hatred toward the clergy.
The facts demonstrate that the court’s decision, rendered under political direction and pressure, is both baseless and unlawful.
The actions taken against Archbishop Mikael constitute, in the classical sense, a case of political persecution and a manifestation of personal vendetta by an individual who professes to be a Christian and a child of the Armenian Church—yet who, on the previous day, instructed law enforcement to blockade the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This reprehensible and unprecedented action constituted an assault on the spiritual center of the Armenian people, its clergy, and the faithful.
We call upon the judiciary and all relevant state authorities to uphold the rule of law and to ensure the immediate release of His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
BACKGROUND of ARREST as STATED by the ARMENIAN CHURCH
June 27 of this year will be remembered in the modern history of our people as a day of national shame, due to the disgraceful actions carried out by the authorities of Armenia against the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Under the pretext of a criminal case fabricated on false grounds, law enforcement officers entered the grounds of the Mother See to arrest and forcibly summon His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese.
At the same time, the entrances to the Mother See were blocked by a large deployment of forces, disrupting the normal life of the spiritual center of the entire Armenian nation. Artificial obstacles, including inspections, were also imposed on those traveling to Vagharshapat and Holy Etchmiadzin.
We strongly condemn these anti-church actions and regard them not only as an insult and desecration of the Holiest of Holies — the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin — but also as a grave offense against the spiritual feelings of the faithful.
As evident from the rhetoric of the Prime Minister and other government representatives, this premeditated operation is yet another expression of the ruling power’s church-hating policy. It is unimaginable that the authorities of our own country would deliver such a treacherous blow to the most ancient national institution of the Armenian people — the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church — an offense that even foreign rulers of the past never dared commit.
We call upon the sons and daughters of our nation to continue standing with unwavering devotion alongside the Mother Church and to pray for the radiance of Holy Etchmiadzin and for peace in our homeland. The clergy, together with our faithful children, will be present at the offices of the Investigative Committee and the courts in solidarity with Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan.
We expect a just judicial decision.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin will use all lawful means to defend the rights of the Church and the clergy.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Sources: https://www.armenianchurch.org/en/news/statement-28-06-2025/11867 - CP24 - OSVNews
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Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemns the June 28 court decision ordering the arrest and imprisonment of His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese. This ruling is a direct result of the anti-Church policies pursued by the Prime Minister and other high-ranking government officials, as well as their rhetoric of hostility and hatred toward the clergy.
The facts demonstrate that the court’s decision, rendered under political direction and pressure, is both baseless and unlawful.
The actions taken against Archbishop Mikael constitute, in the classical sense, a case of political persecution and a manifestation of personal vendetta by an individual who professes to be a Christian and a child of the Armenian Church—yet who, on the previous day, instructed law enforcement to blockade the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This reprehensible and unprecedented action constituted an assault on the spiritual center of the Armenian people, its clergy, and the faithful.
We call upon the judiciary and all relevant state authorities to uphold the rule of law and to ensure the immediate release of His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
BACKGROUND of ARREST as STATED by the ARMENIAN CHURCH
June 27 of this year will be remembered in the modern history of our people as a day of national shame, due to the disgraceful actions carried out by the authorities of Armenia against the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Under the pretext of a criminal case fabricated on false grounds, law enforcement officers entered the grounds of the Mother See to arrest and forcibly summon His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese.
At the same time, the entrances to the Mother See were blocked by a large deployment of forces, disrupting the normal life of the spiritual center of the entire Armenian nation. Artificial obstacles, including inspections, were also imposed on those traveling to Vagharshapat and Holy Etchmiadzin.
We strongly condemn these anti-church actions and regard them not only as an insult and desecration of the Holiest of Holies — the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin — but also as a grave offense against the spiritual feelings of the faithful.
As evident from the rhetoric of the Prime Minister and other government representatives, this premeditated operation is yet another expression of the ruling power’s church-hating policy. It is unimaginable that the authorities of our own country would deliver such a treacherous blow to the most ancient national institution of the Armenian people — the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church — an offense that even foreign rulers of the past never dared commit.
We call upon the sons and daughters of our nation to continue standing with unwavering devotion alongside the Mother Church and to pray for the radiance of Holy Etchmiadzin and for peace in our homeland. The clergy, together with our faithful children, will be present at the offices of the Investigative Committee and the courts in solidarity with Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan.
We expect a just judicial decision.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin will use all lawful means to defend the rights of the Church and the clergy.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Sources: https://www.armenianchurch.org/en/news/statement-28-06-2025/11867 - CP24 - OSVNews
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