Armenian Church criticizes government over anti-church rhetoric

Catholicos of All Armenians and Nikol Pashinyan. Photo: panorama.am

On June 2, 2025, a session of the Supreme Spiritual Council was held in Etchmiadzin under the chairmanship of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. Hierarchs from both Armenia and the diaspora took part, according to News.am.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had compared Armenian churches to “closets cluttered with junk,” criticizing their poor condition and calling for the introduction of standards for evaluating church premises.

In response, the Supreme Spiritual Council accused Pashinyan of attacking the Armenian Apostolic Church using “insulting language” and accusations deemed “inappropriate for a statesman.”

According to the clergy, such statements serve political purposes – namely, to discredit the Armenian Apostolic Church and undermine its influence in society.

"The Armenian Holy Apostolic Church stands united with its faithful and will continue its mission of national preservation, despite destructive processes," the statement reads.

It is worth noting that the Catholicos of All Armenians is elected for life by the National Ecclesiastical Assembly. Abdication is only possible if the Catholicos is found guilty of apostasy by the appropriate church authority.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Armenian Prime Minister insisted the Armenian Church must strictly comply with the country’s Tax Code.

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