Mother See confirms Archbishop Bagrat retains his rank
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has confirmed that Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan retains his rank following the suspension of his spiritual service.
Addressing tens of thousands of people at a rally in Yerevan on Sunday, the senior cleric said he had asked Catholicos Karekin II to freeze his spiritual service so that he could become a candidate for prime minister in the opposition’s impeachment bid against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
"Due to his commitments to lead the Tavush for the Homeland movement and involvement in the popular uprising in Armenia, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan requested the Catholicos of All Armenians to suspend his spiritual service,” the Mother See said in a statement on Monday.
“The request was discussed in the Mother See. His Holiness Bagrat’s episcopal rank is retained while his spiritual and administrative service has been suspended. He has already given explanations on other issues,” it added.