Armenian Apostolic Church Officially Accuses Prime Minister Pashinyan of Discrediting the Church

On June 2, 2025, under the chairmanship of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church held a meeting during which sharp criticism was directed at Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The clergy accused the head of government of “discrediting the Church and the priesthood.” Particular outrage was caused by Pashinyan’s recent statements comparing Armenian churches to “storerooms filled with junk” and calling for standards to assess the condition of church buildings. The report comes from the “News of Armenia” agency.

The Supreme Spiritual Council stated that such rhetoric constitutes “a gross violation of believers’ rights” and is aimed at “undermining the authority of the Church and its clergy, who are respected both in society and internationally.” The clergy emphasized that ecclesiastical matters are governed exclusively by canonical law and “lie outside the jurisdiction of state and political authorities.”

The statement asserts that Pashinyan’s “anti-church behavior” divides society, weakens national spirit, and poses a threat to Armenian statehood. Despite the pressure, the Church reaffirmed its commitment to the faithful and its continued mission of “preserving the nation.”

Earlier, it was reported that during the presentation of his book The Armenian Church, held on May 30 in the Old Greek Parliament in Athens, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia called for a deepening of the ecumenical dialogue between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church “under the leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.”