Armenian PM continues criticising local clergy for "desecration of church"

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has once again raised concerns about the moral integrity of the clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).

Today, June 30, Pashinyan published a new post on Facebook addressing the matter.

“All married priests of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church are my brothers, because they deceive neither people nor God,” Caliber.Az quotes his post as saying.

The prime minister continued: “Of course, they are not flawless, and I am certainly not flawless myself. Having flaws is one thing, but violating the vow of celibacy voluntarily taken before God, and thereby desecrating the Church, is quite another.”

Notably, the current crisis in Armenia centres on a deepening rift between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the AAC, a powerful institution with significant cultural and political influence in Armenian society. The conflict intensified following Armenia’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan, particularly the return of four border villages in May 2024, which sparked widespread protests led by the AAC and its senior clergy, including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, head of the “Holy Struggle” opposition movement. These protests have evolved into broader demands for Pashinyan’s resignation, accusing his government of betraying national interests.

The Armenian government’s response has been severe, with the National Security Service conducting raids and arrests targeting prominent clerics and opposition figures, particularly Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, with charges of terrorism, coup plot. The government also conducted over 90 searches, detaining at least 14 individuals, including opposition activists.

Pashinyan publicly accused the AAC of corruption and moral violations, notably targeting Catholicos Garegin II, the church’s leader, with allegations of breaching celibacy vows and calling for his resignation. 

By Khagan Isayev