On August 7, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Armavir Province in Vagharshapat will hold the first hearing in the criminal case involving His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and six bishops who are members of the Supreme Spiritual Council. The proceedings, presided over by Judge Hakob Manukyan, are scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM.
According to lawyer Ara Zohrabyan, the Catholicos and the bishops currently in Armenia will personally attend the initial hearing. The lawyer emphasized that state interference in Church decisions, particularly regarding the recall of a diocesan primate or the stripping of a bishop's status, contradicts the principles of Church autonomy and fundamental religious freedom.
According to the defense, the criminal prosecution against the Supreme Patriarch is linked to the performance of his ecclesiastical and canonical duties. In essence, this legal process seeks to determine whether secular authorities can intervene in the internal governance of the Church and criminalize the exercise of canonical authority.
This judicial process transcends the scope of ordinary criminal prosecution, raising serious issues regarding the demarcation between state and religious institutions. From a legal standpoint, this is a dispute over the boundaries of authority, which could have long-term implications for the relationship between society and the Church.
It is noteworthy that the court will discuss not only the merits of the specific charges but also the permissibility of secular interference in canonical decisions. The upcoming hearings will clarify the legal interpretations of this sensitive issue, which also touches upon ongoing debates regarding the immunity of spiritual authority.
