Swiss-Armenians in Dispute with Etchmiadzin Shut Down their Church

As a result of a falling out between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Apostolic Church of Switzerland, the latter decided to close its doors on Apr. 10. Local daily Hraparak reports:

“In response to a decision by [His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and] Catholicos of All Armenians with which [newly-appointed] Locum Tenens Vicar of the Armenian Diocese of Switzerland Rev. Fr. Mesrop Barsamian was sent to Geneva,…the Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Switzerland decided to close its doors.

“Swiss-Armenians are against the [Mother See of Holy] Etchmiadzin’s decision to establish a diocese in Switzerland and to replace their spiritual pastor, Fr. Abel Manoukian. On Sunday, the Swiss [Armenian] Apostolic Church Council made a statement, noting that it became informed of the vicar’s visit through Armenia’s mass media.

“‘[In spite of not being formally informed of their visit and] in the absence of an invitation from us, we met with Rev. Fr. Mesrop Barsamian and Archbishop Hovnan Derderian to pass on the following message from the [Parish] Assembly of the Swiss Apostolic Church: our position hasn’t changed. We affirm the Assembly’s unanimous decision which was sent to Karekin II,’ said the council.

“In the Mar. 25 letter, the council of the Geneva church announced Etchmiadzin’s decision as ‘inadmissable, unacceptable and illegal,’ saying that it won’t allow current spiritual pastor Fr. Abel Manoukian to leave the clergy.

‘The statement in the press has raised tremendous tension, disappointment and anger in the community; thus, to avoid any incidents and maintain peace in our community, the [Church] Council decided to close the church on Apr. 10, 2011,’ announced the council.”