Catholicos Karekin II said he was ready to run the church from prison amid conflict with Armenian authorities

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II has expressed his unwavering determination to remain in office, saying he is ready to lead the Armenian Apostolic Church even if he is arrested. This statement was made against the backdrop of escalating conflict with the country’s authorities and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s direct calls for his resignation.

According to Caliber.Az, citing the Zhokhovurd newspaper, Garegin II (in the world Ktrich Nersisyan) notified church circles of his intention not to abdicate. According to the source, he emphasized his readiness to resist any pressure, including possible persecution by law enforcement agencies.

The statement was a response to sharp criticism from the government. Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly stated that Catholicos Karekin II was allegedly deprived of his dignity and seized the patriarchal throne. The head of the government has repeatedly demanded that the Primate of the Church leave his post, which indicates a deep political-religious crisis in the country.

Recall that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a high-profile statement declaring Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II deprived of his dignity and accusing him of breaking his vow of celibacy and seizing the patriarchal throne. This statement, made in Parliament, testifies to the unprecedented aggravation of relations between the state authorities and the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), which has lasted for several months and is accompanied by criminal cases against a number of high-ranking clergymen.