“the Armenian authorities are seeking to bring the Armenian Apostolic Church under their control, following what he called the “Ukrainian scenario.”
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“the Armenian authorities are attempting to reshape the Church and effectively turn it into an arm of the state apparatus
“the authorities in Ukraine and Armenia were destroying the Church using Bolshevik methods
“What is happening recalls the processes surrounding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
“The leadership of the World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed deep concern over the situation surrounding the Armenian Apostolic Church and condemned external interference in its internal affairs.
“Of particular concern to believing citizens of Ukraine is the fact that in recent years, under the pretext of ‘preserving cultural heritage,’ religious communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have been deprived en masse of the right to pray in their historic churches
“All these events remind us to some extent of our own time, in which the zealous followers of the Russian Patriarchate act in the same way as the opponents of the Apostle Paul,” he said. “They accuse us, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, because we did not receive recognition from them or according to rules they invented. They interpret our humility and patience towards the continued existence in Ukraine of a jurisdiction subordinate to Moscow, as well as our calls for dialogue and ecclesiastical peace, as supposed evidence of our weakness and their own correctness.
“We uphold the Armenian Church and its people in prayer at this time. We also express hope and pray that the parties will resolve the conflict for the well-being and prosperity of the entire Armenian people.
“The World Council of Churches, as a global fellowship of churches, affirms the vital role of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the spiritual, cultural and historical life of the Armenian people and in the broader Christian family. As the WCC, we express our concern about undue interference in internal church affairs.