THE Armenian Apostolic Church has condemned the commencement of criminal proceedings against its chief pastor, Catholicos Karekin II, who was also barred from attending an assembly of the Armenian Church held in Austria this week.

“These unfounded and illegal actions are clearly political in nature,” the Church said in a weekend statement from Etchmiadzin.

“By clearly interfering, unconstitutionally and illegally, in the internal life of the Church, the government is hindering the pontifical activities of His Holiness the Patriarch. This is disrespectful towards millions of believers, as well as to the centuries-old structure that has been and remains the unshakable pillar of Armenian statehood.”

The Church was reacting to an announcement that the Catholcos had been banned from travelling to Austria to chair a meeting of Armenian bishops, and would also face prosecution for violating a court order to reinstate an unfrocked pro-government bishop.

The exchanges mark a significant escalation in disputes with the Armenian government under the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan. Armenia is currently negotiating accession to the European Union, and has faced accusations from the Church of conceding too much in peace negotiations with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Government officials have retaliated by accusing Karekin II of acting as a foreign agent and being in violation of celibacy vows by fathering a child. They have backed a group of ten bishops who are calling on him to step down.

Church leaders and human-rights groups overseas have expressed concern over violations of religious freedom and the rule of law during the dispute, in which six bishops and a senior cleric, all Karekin II supporters, have been subjected to criminal charges and travel bans.

In a further move, the National Assembly in Yerevan approved a Land Code amendment last week which deprived the Church of ownership rights to state and communal land acquired on permanent lease.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin demanded an “immediate review” of the “illegal decisions” taken against the Church’s interests, warning that they were dividing society and belittling the country’s “reputation and authority”. The Church, which dates from the first centuries, is recognised as predominant in Armenia’s constitution.

In a Lenten message, the Catholicos called on Apostolic Christians to remain faithful to their Church and to maintain “unwavering zeal” for their “identity and sacred values”.