Armenian PM accuses top cleric of desecrating Church, calls out hypocrisy

On June 12, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a striking statement regarding the crisis within the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Pashinyan shared his views on Facebook, per Caliber.Az.

He stated that attempts to portray efforts aimed at cleansing the church of hypocrites and Pharisees as influenced by “Turkish” or “Azerbaijani” interference represent the clearest form of hypocrisy.

“This is the most direct expression of Phariseeism when the argument about ‘Turkish’ or ‘Azerbaijani’ interference is used as a tool to hide one’s own filth from the Armenian public,” the prime minister wrote.

Pashinyan pointed out that such rhetoric only serves to undermine any chance of constructive dialogue.

“For any forces that do not wish prosperity for Armenia and our church, the real gift is those who have defiled its holy sites — individuals like Ktrik Nersisyan (the secular name of Catholicos Garegin II) and others dressed in robes just like him,” he emphasised.

He also strongly condemned those who defend the Catholicos, accusing them of protecting lies, falsehoods, and corruption.

In closing, Pashinyan addressed rumours about him having a preferred candidate for the Catholicos position, saying, “I have no candidate. What I have is an idea of what the Catholicos should be: a person who believes in God, a follower of Jesus, not a fraudulent usurer; a servant of the church, a devout spiritual leader, not a libertine hiding behind clerical robes.”

By Tamilla Hasanova