Armenian PM demands defrocking of Archbishop Khachatryan over celibacy breaches, perjury

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has renewed his public campaign against what he calls moral misconduct within the Armenian Apostolic Church, focusing specifically on senior clerics.

In a Facebook post cited by Caliber.Az, Pashinyan accused Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan of violating canonical and monastic vows, asserting that the clergyman must be defrocked in line with Church law.

Pashinyan referenced the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church’s Statute, registered with Armenia’s Ministry of Justice, which declares its Canon Law binding for clergy and believers. He quoted Rule 23 of the Second Apostolic Canons, stating, “A bishop, or presbyter, or deacon, if found guilty of fornication, perjury, or theft, must be defrocked.” The Prime Minister alleged that Khachatryan committed fornication, necessitating his defrocking under this rule.

Additionally, Pashinyan claimed Khachatryan violated his vow of celibacy, as outlined in the Statute of Monastic Priesthood. He quoted the document, in which Khachatryan swore to “live a virtuous life and conduct myself with decorum” before the Holy Throne. By breaking this oath, Pashinyan argued, Khachatryan committed perjury, providing further grounds for defrocking.

The Prime Minister framed his actions as a defence of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church’s values, stating, “Am I against the Church, or against those who desecrate its sanctities? It is obvious that I am acting against those who desecrate the sanctities of our Church and am fighting for the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and its faithful congregation, of which I am a part.”

Notably, tensions between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church escalated significantly in June 2025, marking a deepening rift between the government and one of Armenia’s most influential institutions. The conflict, rooted in longstanding political and ideological differences, erupted into a public confrontation following Pashinyan’s aggressive social media campaign targeting senior clergy, particularly Catholicos Garegin II and Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan.

In early June, Pashinyan accused Garegin II of violating his vow of celibacy by allegedly fathering a child, claiming this disqualified him from leading the Church. He called for the “liberation” of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and proposed a coordinating council to organise new elections for the Catholicos, urging church followers to join the effort. His wife, Anna Hakobyan, further intensified the controversy by accusing clergy of serious moral failings, including pedophilia, in inflammatory online posts. These accusations followed a May 29 government meeting where Pashinyan criticised the state of Armenian churches, describing them as “closets filled with garbage” and suggesting state oversight of church leadership.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, led by Karekin II, responded on June 2 with a statement from the Supreme Spiritual Council, condemning Pashinyan’s remarks as “profane” and politically motivated, arguing they threatened national unity and statehood.

By Khagan Isayev