Armenian Church warns bishops against participating in Pashinyan's "anti-canonical" services

The spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Mother See of Echmiadzin, issued a warning to its bishops on December 9, 2025. The Church strongly discourages them from participating in «anti-canonical services» organized by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The statement came amid strained relations between the church and state authorities, which has already led to the arrests of high-ranking AAC hierarchs and supporters.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzinreportedly condemns in the strictest terms the organization of «liturgy» rites in the churches of various dioceses by the authorities under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The statement emphasizes that such actions are accompanied by forceful interference of law enforcement bodies, gross violation of Church statutes and canons, as well as the Constitution and legislation of Armenia. The Church believes that such «services» offend the religious feelings of believers and sow schism. As a concrete example, an incident in the Shirak Diocese, at the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary (Seven Rans) in Gyumri is mentioned.

The statement further notes that the participation of any bishop in these «services» bypassing the spiritual authority of the ruling bishop, in disregard of the accepted church order and statutes, is a gross canonical violation. While still refraining from applying strict measures, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin calls on the «canonically sinned bishops» to stop the path of error and public speeches with false and fictitious content. They are ordered to return to the canonical field, following the traditions of the Holy Church sanctified by centuries, and to act exclusively in the spiritual sphere with a high awareness of the preservation of legitimacy and unity, which is the duty, vocation and mission of a bishop.

Recall, earlier we reported that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, accompanied by the country’s top officials, including President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan, visited the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary («Seven Wounds») in Gyumri. The visit included a liturgy attended by several bishops who had previously expressed disagreement with the actions of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.