Pashinyan again demands the removal of Garegin II from the Catholicosate

On July 20, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan published a series of statements on his Telegram channel, comparing the situation surrounding Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II to a case of corporate ethics. Specifically, he cited the example of the CEO of the company “Astronomer,” who resigned after being caught in marital infidelity, stating that “family values are fundamental” to the company’s culture. This was reported by AMI “News-Armenia.”

Pashinyan drew a parallel with church rules, stating: “According to the teachings of the Armenian Apostolic Church, a monk who has taken a vow of celibacy enters into a marriage with the Church and has no right to any other personal relationships.”

In this context, he accused Catholicos Garegin II of violating the vow of celibacy: “Ktrich Nersisyan (the secular name of the Catholicos — ed.), who broke the vow of marriage with the Church, has still not vacated the Catholicosate, thereby desecrating our holiest of holies — the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.”

The Prime Minister called on the faithful to act: “Thus, Ktrich Nersisyan is calling on us, the faithful followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church, to liberate the Catholicosate from him. We will do this together. Be ready.”

In a second post published the same day, Pashinyan called on citizens to prepare spiritually: “Live in prayer, restraint, fasting, and prepare for the Great spiritual gathering on the central square of Etchmiadzin.”

It is also worth noting that Armenian hieromonk Asoghik issued a statement pronouncing a church curse on anyone who takes part in an intrusion into the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin — the residence of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.