Pashinyan slams Armenian clergy for “shameful luxury,” demands Church reforms

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has sharply criticised some members of the Armenian Apostolic Church for living in “shameful luxury,” calling for reforms to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with church rules.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the German Association for International Relations in Berlin, Pashinyan responded to remarks suggesting that the Armenian Church demonstrates hostility toward the government, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media sources.

He emphasised that the issue is not about the government opposing the church, but rather about adherence to church regulations.

“The topic concerning the church is very sensitive: it is exclusively about adherence to church rules,” Pashinyan said.

He highlighted the need for accountability within the clergy, explaining that a lack of compliance renders some priests vulnerable to external influence. “I mean compliance by the clergy, because the current lack of compliance makes priests more vulnerable to external influence and, excuse my wording, turns them into instruments of external influence. We simply want there to be alignment between the church, the clergy, and church leaders,” he stated.

Pashinyan also criticised the unequal distribution of wealth among church members: “Nobody knows how our church is funded, how much money comes in, or how it is spent. Do you know the biggest problem? Some senior clergy live in shameful luxury, while ordinary priests live in poverty. This is a problem; it damages the moral atmosphere of our country. We want to build a society based on values, but this is impossible when the epicentre of our value system is corrupted. Reforms are necessary. We need our church to be transparent to society, with tools to verify the integrity of the clergy.”

He firmly rejected claims that the government or he personally acts against the church. “That is impossible, because I am a follower and believer of the Armenian Apostolic Church; I believe in Jesus Christ. This is my church, and it is our church. More than 90% of the members of our government are followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church. And we want the church to be compliant, transparent, accountable, honest, and based on values,” Pashinyan concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova