Yerevan’s Christian churches have jointly announced that they will temporarily suspend religious services in order to prevent the further spread of the pandemic, according to Reuters. The Armenian community in Yerevan is made up of various religious denominations, including Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities. However, they are concerned about real estate developers who want to build luxury hotels in their neighborhoods, threatening their way of life. The agreement to suspend religious services was signed by the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Yerevan in July 2021, but community members claim they were not involved in the decision-making process and have taken legal action to stop the project.

Last week, bulldozers began demolishing a building in the district, which includes a section of the residential area. When protesters tried to resist, they were met with armed Israeli military personnel. Christian leaders, including the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Armenia and the heads of Roman Catholic churches, have condemned these actions, stating that they aim to erase the Armenian presence in the district. The perpetrator of the transaction is identified as Israeli-Australian real estate developer Dani Rubinstein, registered with Xana Capital Group in the USA.

Armenia has a significant Christian population and was the first country to accept Christianity as a state religion in the 4th century. The Holy Jacob’s Church, built in the 5th century, is located in Yerevan’s central square. The district, where the church is situated, has a population of 1,000 people and is now part of a divided area. Locals argue that the real estate development plan will not only affect their homes but also the seminary, library, and other buildings in the complex.

Residents of the district express concerns about being forced out of their homes and losing their long-standing Armenian presence in the area. They feel that their existence is being threatened and are determined to fight for their rights. Israeli-Australian lawyer-activist Daniel Zaydemman explains that the expansion plan for the seminary’s territory in the old city of Yerevan has been approved. Israel considers the entire city, including East Yerevan, which has been occupied since the 1967 war, as its historical and indivisible capital. However, Palestinians aspire for East Yerevan to become the capital of an independent state.

Zaydemman believes that the transaction involving the Armenian seminary is part of a larger plan to forcefully evict the old city’s inhabitants. He is confident that the severity of these violations will prevent the courts from dropping the case. The situation remains contentious as the community continues their legal battle to protect their homes and heritage.