Armenian church head Karekin II to stand trial over dismissed bishop

The head of Armenia's Apostolic Church is to stand trial on criminal charges in a historic first for the country, following a dispute over the dismissal of a pro-government bishop.

Catholicos Karekin II and five other senior church officials face allegations of deliberately refusing to enforce a court order to reinstate Bishop Gevorg Saroyan.

According to the independent Armenian news website Civilnet, prosecutors have placed Karekin II and his co-defendants under a travel ban ahead of the court proceedings.

The five other clerics charged alongside the church leader include Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Archbishop Haykazun Najaryan, Bishop Vahan Hovhannesyan, Bishop Edgar Hakobyan, and Bishop Artur Hakobyan.

If convicted, the group could face penalties for abuse of power and obstructing the enforcement of a court ruling.

Bishop Saroyan was removed from his post in January after publicly supporting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s church reform agenda amid an escalating feud between the government and church leadership.

Announcing his dismissal at the time, the church cited alleged abuse of office, failure to fulfil clerical duties, and the coercion of local clergy.

Saroyan rejected the allegations, accusing Karekin II of holding compromising material on members of the priesthood. Later that month, an Armenian court ruled the dismissal unlawful and ordered the church to reinstate him.

Tensions between the church and Pashinyan’s administration have mounted since May 2025, when the prime minister publicly criticised religious leaders over the maintenance of historic church properties across Armenia.

Pashinyan has since stepped up pressure on the institution, making clear his intention to see Karekin II removed from office.