The Pan-Armenian Board of Protection of the Armenian Church strongly condemns the verdict against Bishop Mikael in Yerevan yesterday, which is one of the most impossible pages in the history of our day.
For the first time in the history of independent Armenia, the highest clergyman is imprisoned for his words and beliefs. It causes deep indignation and pain in our society, as we are witnessing such persecution such as only during the years of Soviet dictatorship, only in Stalin.
An unfair account against morality and justice violation against the spiritual leader is a rough example of morality and justice.
The seven wounds of the Surb Astvatsatsinum of Gyumri, the Church of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, is one of the sanctuaries where he has made his service for years, as well as his place in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Instead, we see him behind the bars today.
There is no more severe injustice than dividing the shepherd, and putting a label of God's servant only to the voice of his conscience and the pain of the people. Such an attitude of state government is a monstrous mistake against the church, which hits our national values and the holiness of the Church.
The general public is deeply stunned and angry with this unprecedented step. Millions of believers and citizens cannot accept that the Archbishop, the spiritual cleric, is punished simply to raise his concern over the challenges facing the country.
Such tough actions discredit the loan of the state in the eyes of the people and disrupt the basic principles of statehood. If today the state is repulsion against the Church, who will be next? This is a question that sounds in the mind of every Armenian.
We, my members of the Pan-Armenian Council of the Preservation of the Armenian Church, are strictly condemning this unfair and extremely politicized verdict of the court.
This practice bears the intention of intimidating the clergy and to kill the church's voice, which will never be tolerated by our people.
So the council declares and requires:
1. Immediately release Michael Archbishop Ajapahyan and to end the criminal prosecution of his false persecution against him, terminating this state-level political retaliation.
2. Stop illegal persecution and criminal cases against the representatives of the clergy, which are aimed at responsible for their political views.
The state must stop using force towards the Church and respect the right to freedom of speech of spiritual leaders.
3. Respect the role of the Armenian Apostolic Church and independence in the country and to stop the escalation of artificial contradictions between the state and the church.
We call on the authorities to reconsider their behavior and restore the normal, the relations-based relations based on the spiritual and national unity of our people.
The ignorance of these requirements will only deepen the stigma of these days on the forehead of our state and will make the restless damage to the Armenian people.
We believe that righteousness will eventually defeat, and we pray that the country's leadership will come to his senses and leave the current situation.
Otherwise, history would not support those who left a black stain on the history of the free Armenia, persecuting God's servants and the people of the people. This is a disgrace nowadays.
God keeps our people and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Pan-Armenian Council of Preserves of the Armenian Church
