No rift with church, only with corrupt clergy, says Armenian lawmaker

The Armenian authorities do not have any conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church itself, a senior lawmaker from the ruling party has stated.

Artur Hovhannisyan, Secretary of the Civil Contract faction in parliament, told reporters that the government’s concerns are directed at certain high-ranking clergymen, not the Church as an institution, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“The authorities have issues with clergy who have violated their vows to God, degrading every possible value through their behavior,” Hovhannisyan said.

Asked whether dialogue with Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was possible, Hovhannisyan stressed that discussions could only relate to the Catholicos’s resignation. “Dialogue cannot be about whether a clergyman who has violated the vow of celibacy should continue their service while we, as a devout people, accept it,” he added.

The remarks come amid a public dispute between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Catholicos Karekin II. Pashinyan has accused the Catholicos of illegitimately holding office, breaching his vow of celibacy, and fathering a child, urging him to step down. In response, Karekin II and other church officials have accused the Prime Minister of leading an anti-church campaign.

Pashinyan has rejected these claims, describing himself as a devout follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church committed to “liberating” it from corruption and illegitimacy. The Catholicos has so far not responded to the accusations.

By Vafa Guliyeva