Armenian PM demands clarification on alleged breach of celibacy by church leader

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has intensified his criticism of the Armenian Apostolic Church, publicly demanding that the Church clarify whether Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II has violated his vow of celibacy and fathered a child.

In a recent Facebook post, Pashinyan called on the Church to confirm or deny the allegations. Previously he has stated that "If it turns out that the Catholicos has a child, he has no right to hold his high rank," Caliber.Az reports. 

Taron Chakhoyan, deputy head of the Prime Minister's Office, echoed this demand on social media, accusing the Church of avoiding direct answers. 

“In fact, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin did not refute whether Garegin II had a child,” Chakhoyan wrote. “Instead, they claim that church matters are decided by church rules, or in other words, it's none of your business, we'll decide. There is no church rule by which you can falsely swear to God and remain Catholicos.”

Pashinyan has previously voiced concern over clergymen violating celibacy vows and argued that the state should play a decisive role in the election of the Catholicos.

The confrontation between Armenia's executive branch and the Armenian Apostolic Church has grown increasingly tense recently. The latest escalation follows harsh criticism of Pashinyan by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a vocal opponent of the prime minister who has repeatedly questioned his leadership and moral character.

On May 30, both Pashinyan and his wife, Anna Hakobyan, published a series of Facebook posts attacking clergy members, with some posts containing offensive language. The prime minister continued his campaign on May 31 with additional statements targeting the Church’s leadership.

It was also reported that the parliamentary faction of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's ruling Civil Contract party intends to initiate a bill that would make the church financially accountable to the state.

By Sabina Mammadli