Armenian PM demands answer from Catholicos Karekin II over celibacy rumours

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has openly questioned the personal conduct of Catholicos Karekin II, urging the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church to clarify whether he has violated his vow of celibacy.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Pashinyan said the public has a right to transparency regarding the behaviour of the Church's highest-ranking cleric, Caliber.Az reports.

“Let Garegin II personally explain whether he broke his vow of celibacy,” Pashinyan wrote.

Describing the Catholicos as a figure of profound importance to the Armenian people, Pashinyan said, “In my understanding, the Catholicos of All Armenians is an unquestionable authority, a steadfast defender of justice, and an indisputable source of truth.”

He added, “I find it hard to believe that the Catholicos of All Armenians could ever be in the role of concealing the truth.”

“I cannot believe that anything but the truth could come from the mouth of the Catholicos of All Armenians,” Pashinyan continued.

The Prime Minister concluded with a direct appeal: “Let Karekin II himself clarify: has he broken his vow of celibacy, and does he, in fact, have a child? We, his flock, have the right to hear the truth from him.”

Pashinyan earlier stated that the number of celibate clergy who have families still needs to be determined, and that the state should have the decisive voice in the election of the Catholicos of All Armenians.

It was also reported that the parliamentary faction of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party intends to put forward a draft law requiring the Church to provide financial accountability to the state.

By Aghakazim Guliyev