The fall of an idol in a cassock  How Pashinyan is forcing out Armenia’s Catholicos

Thus, the confrontation between Armenia’s prime minister and the Catholicos of All Armenians continues to intensify. In this struggle, as the saying goes, the initiative now lies with Pashinyan, while dark clouds are gathering over Garegin II.

As expected, clergy who have broken with the Catholicos are planning to hold a religious service in Etchmiadzin today. On the eve of the event, several of them addressed their congregations, calling for Etchmiadzin to be “cleansed” of those whom they accuse of serving foreign interests.

According to Armenian media reports, an active campaign to collect signatures demanding the resignation of Garegin II is underway across the regions. The initiative was reportedly launched by Civil Contract MP Karen Sarukhanyan.

Media outlets say that the proposal, which Sarukhanyan put forward at a party meeting, was met with enthusiasm by representatives of the ruling party, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is even said to have publicly praised him.

Following this, supporters of the authorities began gathering signatures in both villages and cities, including at public transport stops. Notably, the campaign was launched in Shirak Province, whose diocesan head, Archbishop Ajapakhyan, is currently under arrest.

Recently clergy also came forward with a similar demand, organising a signature-gathering campaign after meeting with Pashinyan. “I join the petition to retire Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, elect a Catholicosal locum tenens, and organise new Catholicosal elections,” was the appeal they voiced.

In general, when examining the confrontation between the prime minister and the Catholicos in retrospect, one thing becomes clear: the former’s decision to remove the latter was, from the very outset, effectively a verdict that allowed no appeal. This is also clearly reflected in Nikol Pashinyan’s statements, which have been marked by the consistency of the position he has articulated.

For example, in late July, the Armenian leader outlined a plan on Facebook to remove the Catholicos, stating that “first and foremost, the Mother See must be freed from Ktrich” (the secular name of Garegin II — ed.). He then stressed that he intends to amend the charter of the Armenian Church so that it becomes “a secular, concise, and clear document understandable to everyone.”

“After the adoption of the new Charter, elections of the Catholicos of All Armenians should take place, during which the integrity of all candidates for the post of Catholicos will be verified,” the Armenian leader also specified.

Later, in August, speaking at a briefing, he again stated that Garegin II must leave his post: “My position regarding the Armenian Apostolic Church has not changed and cannot change under any circumstances. Ktrich Nersisyan must step down.”

In this context, one cannot fail to note once again how Pashinyan managed to win over part of the clergy to his side, which automatically deepened divisions within the church community and clearly “plays into the hands” of the current authorities. Indeed, a statement by Armenian bishops in support of the prime minister followed almost immediately after Pashinyan told journalists that “Ktrich Nersisyan has exhausted all opportunities to participate in the reform process; he simply must vacate the Holy Mother See of Etchmiadzin.” Incidentally, at that time he also, as if in passing, addressed both the clergy and the public, stating that any follower of the Armenian Church could take part in this process.

This call by Karen Sarukhanyan fits seamlessly into the overall sequence of events outlined above and can be described as a clear signal that the plan to remove Garegin II is approaching its logical conclusion. We believe that by ousting the Catholicos, Nikol Pashinyan will, so to speak, spiritually decapitate part of the opposition on the eve of the parliamentary elections, depriving it of the ability to exploit religion for anti-government purposes—something that would automatically reduce the risk of provocative actions, the likelihood of which remains quite high at present.

At the same time, as we can see, the current authorities have skillfully shared responsibility for carrying out this mission with the public. This may well go down in the history of Armenia’s political life as an example of a carefully calculated and tactically well-executed move aimed at eliminating revanchists of all kinds and stripes, including those who hide daggers beneath their cassocks.