Suspended bishop files a lawsuit against the Church in Armenia
The lawsuit by a hierarch banned from serving against the leadership of the Armenian Church is the first such case in modern Armenia, where the Church is separated from the state.
On January 10, 2026, a lawsuit was filed with the Armavir Regional Court by Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, who has been suspended from ministry, against the Armenian Apostolic Church. Information about this was posted in the Datalex judicial-legal acts system, ArmInfo reports.
According to the published data, the clergyman is asking the court to declare invalid an order issued by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II on January 10, 2026, by which Saroyan was removed from the post of head of the Masisotn Eparchy.
The claim was accepted for consideration on January 15 and signed by a judge of the Armavir Regional Court. Thus, this is an attempt to challenge an internal church decision through a state court procedure.
It is noted that this is the first such case in the history of modern Armenia, where under the Constitution the Armenian Apostolic Church is separated from the state. Earlier, the Chancellery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin stated that the grounds for Saroyan’s suspension were identified facts of abuse of office, improper fulfillment of duties, as well as instances of pressure on the clergy of the eparchy.
Gevorg Saroyan is also among the hierarchs who previously signed a statement on the “renewal” of the Armenian Apostolic Church, presented with the participation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Armenian Church will appeal to international bodies over pressure from the authorities.
