Pashinyan forbids priests to mention Armenian Church head during services

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. Photo: a screenshot from armeniatoday video

Prime Minister Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated that the National Security Service instructed the clergy not to mention the name of Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians Karekin during liturgies attended by the head of government. He announced this during a briefing broadcast by Armenia Today.

According to Pashinyan, every service attended by him or other representatives of the authorities is considered a "protected object," and therefore state structures "analyze possible risks" and dictate the order of the liturgy. This includes demanding not to mention the Catholicos, whom the Prime Minister publicly ceased to recognize as the legitimate head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

"When I plan to attend a service, we ask that the fact that we do not consider Ktrich Nersisyan as Catholicos be taken into account," Pashinyan stated.

For several months, the Prime Minister has asserted that the Catholicos "violated the canons" and should resign. Amid pressure on the Church, Pashinyan attends services of those clergy who are either defrocked, have publicly opposed Karekin II, or have agreed to serve without mentioning the head.

The assembly of bishops and heads of dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church called the omission of the Catholicos's name during the liturgy a violation of church order and subject to strict punishment if the priest does not repent.

As reported by the UOJ, Pashinyan accused the head of the Armenian Church of "threatening Armenia's national security".

Read also