Armenian PM urges Church to focus on faith, not political battles

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has underscored that the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) should not become entangled in political conflicts or be used as a political instrument, while affirming its vital role in public life.

Pashinyan noted that Armenian society broadly shares the view—approaching consensus—that the church should remain free from active political engagement, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“At the same time, the church must be a space of spiritual unity,” Pashinyan said. “It should be a place where divisions between the authorities and the opposition vanish, where political opponents can stand side by side, pray together, and take part in liturgies and church sacraments.”

The Prime Minister emphasized that the AAC’s central mission is to promote the teachings of Jesus Christ and Christian values in the daily lives of individuals. He argued that this spiritual mission forms the church’s natural link to Armenia’s social and civic life, allowing it to positively influence society without becoming a political actor.

By highlighting the church’s role as a unifying moral force, Pashinyan called for a careful balance: preserving the AAC’s spiritual authority while acknowledging its relevance to the nation’s public and cultural life, without allowing political conflicts to interfere.

By Vafa Guliyeva