Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has strongly condemned what it described as a troubling recent development at Hovhannavank— the organization of inappropriate events, in this case a feast, on monastery grounds, which it said “disrupted the monastery’s spiritual and prayerful atmosphere and disturbed nearby residents.”
“This situation is a direct consequence of the authorities’ overt patronage and tolerance toward defrocked Stepan Asatryan, which directly violates the laws of the Republic of Armenia and the rights of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. The fact that Hovhannavank has been seized and the arbitrary actions taking place there also offend the religious feelings and violate the rights of believers, misleading devout visitors through invalid rites and sacraments.
Considering these developments unacceptable, the Mother See once again calls on the relevant state authorities to refrain from divisive interference in church life and restore the legal status of all seized churches,” the statement said.
The Diocese of Aragatsotn also strongly condemned the use of the monastery complex “as a venue for organizing a feast.”
“For a considerable period, Diocesan Primate His Grace Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan has prohibited the organization of such events in the immediate courtyards of churches and monastery complexes.
For about a year, the Hovhannavank monastery complex has been occupied by a defrocked clergyman, and non-canonical, invalid ‘sacraments’ are being performed there, in which, unfortunately, uninformed believers become participants.
We call on the relevant state authorities to take measures prescribed by law and return the seized monastery to the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church,” the diocese said in its statement.
Defrocked priest Stepan Asatryan denied on his Facebook page the authenticity of a video circulating online and claimed the disseminated materials were defamatory.
“Dear friends, since yesterday, defamatory videos have been circulating online alleging that, following a wedding ceremony on the grounds of Hovhannavank, music inappropriate for a sacred site was played.
I would like to inform you that the information circulated in the recording is the result of a simple computer compilation and does not correspond to reality. Once again, I invite concerned and sincere believers to witness and take part in the prayerful atmosphere of Hovhannavank, while I entrust the provocateurs to the Lord’s just mercy,” he said.
Journalist Lia Sargsyan earlier wrote on her Facebook page that Ishkhanutyun news outlet had been receiving reports from Ohanavan alleging that Russian criminal-underworld-style music was being played at Hovhannavank and that parties and feasts were being organized there.
“Residents provided our editorial office with a video and claim that Stepan Asatryan, who was defrocked by the Mother See, has turned the Hovhannavank grounds into a ‘business center’: parties and feasts are organized on the monastery grounds, tents are erected, and instead of spiritual silence, Russian ‘blatnoy’ music is played,” she wrote.
By a patriarchal directive of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Father Aram Asatryan was defrocked in October 2025, but he refuses to leave Hovhannavank.