Armenian bishop warns authorities of possible anathema

Father Asoghik Karapetyan. Photo: Regionstv

On July 3, 2025, the monk of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Father Asoghik Karapetyan, called on the Armenian authorities to stop pressuring the Armenian Apostolic Church and warned of the possibility of anathema. This was reported by News.am.

The clergyman, who heads the Public Relations Department of Etchmiadzin, published an appeal accusing government representatives of a deliberate attack on the Church and the violation of spiritual boundaries.

"With sincere sorrow, we record that some representatives of the Fatherland’s authorities, in agreement with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, are consciously continuing their disrespectful and indecent course against the Holy Church and its divinely ordained Patriarchate… already, opening the door to schism," noted Father Asoghik.

He emphasized that the Armenian Church has repeatedly called on the authorities to be vigilant, so that they do not abuse their official position by violating the Constitution and laws, to stop, cease their attacks and repent. However, according to him, nothing changes – "they remain in the same callous evil, moreover, they continue their unprincipled and illegal course."

In conclusion, Father Asoghik made one of the strongest statements from the clergy in recent times: "Stop, ladies and gentlemen, officials, I beg you, for the love of God, put an end to this monstrous process, in which there is absolutely no love and light, for it is only the behavior of the enemy. The church's apostasy is terrible, with its grave consequences in this life and the next. So, do not urge us to put divine authority into action. Stop and repent."

It is worth recalling that a conflict had previously escalated between Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and Prime Minister Pashinyan. The Armenian Church also strongly condemned the detention of the clerics who took part in peaceful protests, describing the actions as interference in church affairs and a violation of religious freedom.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an Armenian Church archbishop believes that the anti-church campaign by the authorities is intensifying and gaining momentum.

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