Church attempts to end rumours of icon sale

Armenia’s dominant church put a significant Christian relic on display yesterday after rumours that a part of it had been sold prompted protesters to occupy a main church administrative building. The Spear of Longinus, which the Armenian Apostolic Church says is the lance stabbed into Jesus Christ’s side as he hung on the cross, was displayed. Demonstrations calling for the resignation of the church’s leader, Catholicos Garegin II, have persisted for months. Detractors have claimed Garegin II is married and involved in business activities, which are against church doctrine.