Armenian Church head and six clerics charged in bishop reinstatement case

The Armenian Apostolic Church has entered a new controversy after Catholicos Karekin II and six senior clerics were accused of failing to reinstate a bishop who was defrocked earlier this year. The bishop, whose name has not been disclosed publicly, claims that the decision to remove him from office was unjust and that the church hierarchy neglected its duty to review the case and restore him. He alleges that the clerics, including the Catholicos, ignored procedural requirements and denied him the opportunity to appeal the defrocking.

According to the bishop’s statement, the removal was based on allegations of misconduct that were never fully investigated. He says that the ecclesiastical court that issued the decree did not allow him to present evidence or witnesses, and that the six clerics involved were responsible for approving the decision without conducting a proper review. The church, for its part, has stated that the defrocking was carried out in accordance with canon law and that the bishop’s appeals were dismissed after a thorough examination of the facts.

The dispute has drawn attention from both clergy and lay members of the Armenian Apostolic community. While the church has not yet issued a formal response to the accusations, the bishop’s case is reportedly being considered by an independent ecclesiastical tribunal. The outcome of the proceedings will likely have implications for how disciplinary actions are handled within the church’s hierarchy.