Pro-Pashinyan Armenian bishops call for Catholicos Garegin II’s resignation

Ten Armenian bishops aligned with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the current state of the Armenian Church and calling for decisive action.

The bishops said that in recent years, the voices of both clergy and believers have largely gone unheard and have failed to influence the church’s mission. They warned that the current situation poses a serious threat to Armenia’s national and state security, emphasising that all leaders and officials are accountable to history for their decisions, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The statement urged clergy and the faithful, both in Armenia and in the diaspora, to unite and raise a “just voice of protest” against what the bishops described as a “destructive and anti-canonical process.” It also called for a complete rejection of any attempts to subordinate the Armenian Church to external interests.

In line with these demands, the bishops announced a gathering in Echmiadzin on December 18 at 5 p.m. local time, aimed at pressing for the resignation of Catholicos Garegin II. 

By Sabina Mammadli