Pashinyan urges priests to protest at Catholicos commemoration

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. Photo: News-Armenia

On December 27, 2025, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, urged clergy to allow and not hinder the expression of protest when mentioning the name of the Catholicos of All Armenians during the Liturgy in churches, reports News-Armenia agency.

According to the head of the government, people have approached him, noting that during participation in services in various churches, when the name of Ktrich Nersisyan (the secular name of the Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians) is mentioned, they feel the urge to express protest. These believers, Pashinyan noted, are interested in whether such actions are permissible during the Liturgy and how priests should react to this.

Answering this question, the prime minister stated: “I believe – yes, this is possible and permissible, since it is a legitimate expectation.” He added that clergy should not prevent the expression of this position, and that followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church should not only form their own attitude toward what is happening, but also express it openly. “We must not only form an opinion about this fact, but also voice it, seeking practical results,” he emphasized

Pashinyan also announced that he intends to participate in the Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Garni. "I expect that here too the name of Ktrich Nersisyan will not be mentioned during the Liturgy – for the reasons and justifications previously stated," the Prime Minister said, effectively outlining his expectations from the clergy.

Previously, the head of the government repeatedly criticized the Armenian Apostolic Church and personally Catholicos Karekin II. The Supreme Church Council of the AAC characterized Pashinyan's statements as a shameful anti-church campaign, warning of the possible destructive consequences of such processes for the Church and society.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that in Armenia, Pashinyan's supporters attempted to storm the Echmiadzin Cathedral.

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