Armenian Prime Minister Signs Roadmap for AAC Renewal, Church in Response Convenes National Council

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a «roadmap for the renewal of the Armenian Church» with six archbishops and four bishops in early January. The document, a video of the signing of which the prime minister posted on his Telegram channel, includes points on advancing the renewal agenda, the removal of the de facto head of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), the election of the Catholicos, the adoption of a new AAC Charter, and the subsequent election of the Catholicos of All Armenians. In response to these events, the Armenian Apostolic Church, finding itself in the current difficult situation, has announced the imminent holding of the National Church Council, aimed at resolving the most important issues and refuting rumors of a possible split.

As Blagovest-info reports with reference to TASS, the signed text consists of five key points: promotion of the renewal agenda, removal of the de facto head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, election of the Catholicos-in-Office in accordance with the established procedure, adoption of the AAC Charter and election of the Catholicos of All Armenians in accordance with the established procedure. The text states that the Charter should enshrine mechanisms for observing canonical principles, financial transparency and ensuring ethical standards of the clergy. Earlier, on December 8, 2025, Nikol Pashinyan already presented a plan «for the renewal of the Armenian Apostolic Church» after the ouster of Garegin II.

On the AAC side, the roadmap was signed by the following hierarchs: archbishop Hovnan Terteryan (head of the Western Diocese of the AAC in North America), Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan (Vicar General of the Patriarchal Diocese of Ararat), Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan of Vayotszdor, Archbishop Arakel Karamyan of Kotayk, Archbishop Sion Adamyan of Armavir, archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan of the Baltic States, Bishop Anushavan Zhamkochyan (Dean of the Faculty of Theology at Yerevan University), Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan of Artsakh, Bishop Artak Tigranian (Rector of the Monasteries of Echmiadzin) and Bishop Gevorg Saroyan of Masiatsotn.

Against the backdrop of these events, the Armenian Apostolic Church decided to initiate a National Church Council. This is reported by Blagovest-info with reference to Sputnik Armenia, which quotes the words of former Minister of Justice, member of the Supreme Spiritual Council Gevorg Danielyan. He said, «This session will take place soon, it is not far off. You will all be convinced that the notorious schism that has allegedly arisen in the Church does not really exist. Unfortunately, there are a few individuals, and we very much hope that everything will fall into place — they will eventually come to their senses, realize the situation, will be able to adequately assess the pressure exerted on them and remain a part of the Church».

Gevorg Danielyan did not specify the timeframe for the convocation of the council, but assured that it will not be postponed, as there are important issues to be discussed at this level. The last National-Church Council was convened in 2017. After that, the Armenian Apostolic Church had to periodically postpone such events due to pandemic, war, emergency and then martial law, focusing on social issues that emerged after the war. The National Church Council is the oldest national and church-wide supreme governing body of the Armenian Apostolic Church, whose sessions are convened by the Catholicos of All Armenians. The Council elects the Catholicos, makes decisions on major national-church issues, as well as on significant issues of dogmatic, ritual, canonical and administrative-administrative nature.

Recall, earlier we reported that the Criminal Court of Appeal of Armenia rejected the defense complaint against the arrest of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church Chancellery Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, leaving him in custody. The charges of «sale of narcotic substances», which are incriminated against the clergyman, are called absurd and politically motivated by his defense, clergy and opposition forces.