Claims  that the Armenian Apostolic Church lacks a charter are  groundless:  Mother See 

ArmInfo.  The Holy See of Etchmiadzin has refuted claims that the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church (AAC) lacks a charter, calling them groundless.

The statement from the Holy See of Etchmiadzin's press office recalls that the Armenian Church has been guided by canons adopted by church councils and patriarchal canons for centuries, "The drafting of the Constitution of the Armenian Apostolic Church began during the reign of Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I,  continued under His Holiness Karekin I and, to a greater extent, during the reign of the current Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II," the statement continued.

The AAC added that during the Church Representative Assemblies (CRAs) convened in Holy Etchmiadzin in 2009 and 2014, the statutes of the National Church Assembly (NCA), the Church Representative Assembly, the Supreme Spiritual Council (SEC), as well as guidelines for diocesan and parish statutes, were approved.

"These approved and prepared statutes are in effect in our church, and their final approval must also be carried out by the NCC. Therefore, the unfounded assertion that the Armenian Church "has no statute" has nothing to do with truth or reality. Moreover, the relevant committees, created by the direction of His Holiness the Patriarch, continue their work in this direction upon completing the Constitution of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the adoption of which will be a truly important and significant event in the life of our church," the statement continues.

The statement also expresses regret that the work of the committees drafting the statutes was disrupted, as their chairmen are currently illegally imprisoned. "Regarding the convening of the National Church Assembly, we consider it necessary to emphasize that the Patriarch of All Armenians has always desired and wishes to convene this assembly every seven years to discuss the issues and challenges facing the Armenian Church, to seek solutions to existing issues, and to determine the priorities of our Church's activities. Unfortunately, it was postponed due to the pandemic and the war in Artsakh. We hope that the upcoming National Church Assembly will be held in Holy Etchmiadzin, where solutions to the challenges and issues raised will be found," the Etchmiadzin delegation concluded.