Media: Some Armenian clerics back PM Pashinyan, raising tensions in Church

Within the Armenian Church, a group of clergy has emerged expressing support for Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

They are taking actions that create tension within the church, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Yerevan-based Zhoghovurd newsparer.

The outlet reports that the Catholicos of All Armenians, Garegin II, is actively trying to prevent a split and maintain church unity. Recently, he has been holding almost daily separate meetings with all clergy, emphasising the need “not to succumb to possible provocations from the authorities” and to avoid “internal destruction” of the church.

However, it is noted that Pashinyan has managed to win over part of the clergy, exacerbating divisions within the church community.

The pro-Pashinyan clergy's emergence is symptomatic of a year-long feud that intensified in May 2025, when Pashinyan accused Karekin II and senior bishops of moral lapses (e.g., violating celibacy vows) and plotting a "coup" with opposition oligarchs like Samvel Karapetyan. This led to the arrest of three archbishops in June–July 2025 on charges of incitement, sparking protests and international condemnation from the World Council of Churches. Pashinyan framed the conflict as a "liberation" of the Church from Soviet-era corruption, proposing a "New Armenia, New Catholicos" initiative for elections—dismissed by Karekin as unconstitutional interference.

By Khagan Isayev