Pashinyan’s office condemns church leader, calls defrocking of priest revenge

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s office has criticized Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II over the recent defrocking of Father Tade Tahmazyan, framing the move as an act of personal revenge.

Taron Chakhoyan, Deputy Chief of Armenian Prime Minister's Staff, said that the decision to strip Father Tahmazyan of his clerical status was motivated by retaliation rather than church discipline, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“My support goes to Father Tade, who was defrocked by Ktrich [Garegin II]. He is merely trying to take revenge,” Chakhoyan said.

He further accused Garegin II of shielding wrongdoing within the church, adding, “In the opinion of Ktrich’s protector of sacrilege, Father Tade likely committed a greater sin than Arshak [Chancellor of the Mother See of Etchmiadzin].”

Chakhoyan concluded by asserting that Garegin II’s actions have undermined the Church’s credibility: “Ktrich, who hides sacrilege and protects those guilty of it, will undoubtedly leave alongside Arshak—there is no place for them in the Church.”

The remarks come amid ongoing controversy surrounding Father Tahmazyan, who has previously criticized moral failings and corruption within the Armenian Church under Garegin II’s leadership. 

By Vafa Guliyeva