"Armenia is a secular yet deeply religious state in the Caucasus that takes pride in being the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion in the year 301 CE. With many still in shock after a court sentenced Apostolic Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan to jail on October 3, after finding him guilty of "making public calls aimed at seizing power," roughly two weeks later, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan was put in pre-trial detention."
"Before his arrest on October 15, authorities raided the Aragatsotn Diocese, where Proshyan serves as a Primate and the homes of its priests and staff. Twelve people were initially taken into custody, most of them priests, but only three were charged. The criminal proceedings are based on the statements made by priest Aram Asatryan of the same Diocese in September during an interview with Armenia's Public TV network."
"The Church dismissed the priest's claim and assessed the raids and arrest as "another manifestation of the systematic anti-church campaign instigated by the authorities." The crackdown comes amid heightened tensions between the government and the Church, as the country gears up for the 2026 parliamentary elections. The Church, which enjoys a high level of public support, has increasingly taken on an opposition role, and clergy members have become more actively involved in politics."
Armenia reveres its status as the first country to adopt Christianity in 301 CE while remaining a secular state. A court sentenced Apostolic Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan to jail on October 3 for "making public calls aimed at seizing power." Two weeks later, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan was placed in pre-trial detention on charges of coercing participation in assemblies and obstructing electoral rights through official authority. Authorities raided the Aragatsotn Diocese and multiple homes on October 15, detaining twelve people, mostly priests, with three charged. Criminal proceedings rely on statements by priest Aram Asatryan, who alleged pressure on priests to join 2021 opposition rallies. Church leaders dismissed the claims and framed the raids as part of an anti-church campaign amid rising tensions before the 2026 parliamentary elections, while the Church has become more oppositional and clergy more politically active.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]