A public dispute has arisen in Armenia between representatives of the judicial system and the Armenian Apostolic Church. The reason was the court's decision to temporarily reinstate two clergymen, Stepan Asatryan and Aramais Takhmazyan, who had previously been defrocked. This is reported by the Tsargrad newspaper.
The clergy of the Aragatsotn diocese stated that they did not intend to comply with the court order, as they considered it interference in the internal affairs of the church. The official statement emphasizes that secular authorities have no right to oblige the clergy to commit acts contrary to church canons and religious obligations.
The clergy refer to the norms of national legislation and international documents, including the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, which guarantee the autonomy of religious organizations and their independence from government.
At the same time, the court applied interim measures and ordered the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to return the priests to service before the final consideration of the case. According to the decree, one of them should take up duties at St. Hovhannavank monastery, the second in the Talinsky region.
It has not yet been reported how the conflict will be resolved and whether there will be legal consequences for non-enforcement of the court decision.