Archbishop Mirzakhanyan: Etchmiadzin neglects Armenian people

Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, head of the Armenian diocese in the Baltic states, has criticised the leadership of the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, claiming it has neglected the needs of the Armenian people.

Speaking to Armenian media, Mirzakhanyan said the Church should remain independent from political forces, Caliber.Az reports.

“We are not priests of the government, but we are not priests of the opposition either — we are servants of the Church,” he said.

He accused parts of the clergy of becoming overly involved in politics, including attending opposition rallies under the pretext of preventing clashes. “If their goal had truly been to prevent confrontations, they would have sent priests on March 1, 2008, but they did not,” he said.

Mirzakhanyan also criticised the invitation of Archbishop Bagrat, leader of the revanchist movement “Sacred Struggle”, to lead political initiatives, despite opposition from most bishops. “That was when the people were led into confrontations. Our patience has run out, because we are the Church, not a political party,” he added.

He claimed the Catholicos of Etchmiadzin has failed to prioritise the Armenian people, noting a lack of pastoral visits to dioceses in Armenia over the past seven to eight years. “When we asked him about our people during meetings, he openly said: ‘We decide, the people should simply follow.’”

Mirzakhanyan expressed concern over perceived discrimination during liturgies, citing prayers being offered for a select few, including prominent figures like Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, rather than for all.

He also criticised the Church’s absence during crises, referring to the 2024 floods in northern Armenia’s Lori region. “We were not there with our people; others were,” he said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev