Shirak Diocese Clergy: If anyone other than us conducts the liturgy,  it will mean the cathedral is occupied

ArmInfo.  The clergy of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) have issued a statement.

"We, the undersigned, the clergy of the Shirak Diocese, declare that  now and always we will mention the name of our Armenian Patriarch and  Primate of the Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan.   For the information of our faithful, we want to inform you that if  anyone other than the clergy of our diocese celebrates the Liturgy in  any of the churches of the Shirak Diocese, and particularly in the  Church of the Holy Seven Wounds, this will be considered as the  cathedral being occupied. This hinders the legitimate activities of  the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the  celebration of the sacred rite-the Holy Liturgy-by authorized clergy  and hinders the fulfillment of the spiritual needs of the faithful.

The Church of the Holy Seven Wounds has withstood two Turkish  occupations, and it will withstand this one as well," the statement  reads.

The day before, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on social  media that on Sunday, December 7, he will participate in the holy and  immortal Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Seven Wounds in Gyumri.   Prior to this, reports had circulated that NSS officers were asking  priests in Gyumri churches not to mention the Catholicos' name at the  upcoming Sunday liturgy, which the Prime Minister might attend. It  was later revealed that the Prime Minister intended to visit Surb  Hakob Church, and prior to this, the rector, Priest Ruben Gasparyan,  had been visited by NSS officers. In an interview with 24News,  Gasparyan confirmed that the security services had indeed visited  him. At the same time, the priest said he would not refrain from  mentioning the names of the Catholicos and Archbishop Mikael  Ajapahyan (the head of the diocese, currently in pretrial detention  for criticizing the government and calling for  the "overthrow of the  constitutional order" - ed.).

In this regard, according to media reports, the authorities are  looking for a priest who will agree to conduct the liturgy at the  Church of the Holy Mother of God (Seven Wounds) in Gyumri, as all 24  clergy of the Shirak Diocese refused to serve on Sunday at Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan's request-without mentioning the Catholicos'  name. Therefore, it is possible that the Prime Minister will bring in  a suitable priest, deacons, and sacristans from elsewhere to conduct  the liturgy.

At the latest government briefing, Pashinyan acknowledged that the  National Security Service is asking clergy not to mention the name of  Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II during liturgies in which he  participates. "I attend those liturgies where the name of Ktrich  Nersisyan (the secular name of Garegin II) is not mentioned." When I  plan to participate in the liturgy, we ask that the fact that we do  not consider Nersisyan to be Catholicos be taken into account,"  Pashinyan said.