Armenian Church Barred from Medieval Monastery
By Naira Bulghadarian and Robert Zargarian
The Armenian Apostolic Church has accused authorities of illegally stripping it of access to a medieval monastery.
A defrocked priest, Stepan Asatryan, held a liturgy on October 26, attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and several hundred people, including government officials.
Pashinyan said the ceremony is part of his drive to depose the supreme head of the church, Catholicos Karekin II.
Asatryan publicly admitted supporting Pashinyan's campaign after being defrocked by the church leadership.
Author's summary: Church access denied.