PanARMENIAN.Net - The Investigative Committee of Armenia has launched a criminal case against the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) for failure to comply with a court decision regarding defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan (Arman Saroyan), the former leader of the Diocese of Masis. This included managing diocesan finances and executing financial transactions until a final verdict was rendered. Based on this ruling, an enforcement proceeding was initiated at the Compulsory Enforcement Service, which issued a decision on January 19, 2026, obliging the Church to perform or refrain from specific actions. The decision was personally delivered to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin’s Chancellery. However, despite the legal constraints, the Supreme Spiritual Council declared Bishop Gevorg Saroyan defrocked by patriarchal decree on January 27, 2026.