Armenia’s Catholicos Absent From Parliament Opening After Not Receiving Invitation, a First Since Independence

For the first time since Armenia declared independence, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church was absent from the opening of a newly elected parliament after authorities failed to send him an invitation.

Catholicos Karekin II’s absence from the National Assembly’s inaugural session on Sunday immediately drew objections from opposition lawmakers and deepened the public confrontation between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the church.

After President Vahagn Khachaturyan addressed the chamber, opposition members asked why the Catholicos was not present. Knyaz Hasanov, the oldest lawmaker and temporary chair of the session, urged deputies not to disrupt the proceedings.

Aram Vardevanyan of the Strong Armenia faction cited the National Assembly’s rules of procedure, which give both the president and the Catholicos of All Armenians the right to deliver welcoming remarks at the opening of a new parliament.

Vardevanyan asked why the Catholicos had not been given the opportunity to exercise that right.

Hasanov said he was not authorized to explain the decision.

“The Catholicos could have come himself. No one could have stopped him,” Hasanov said. He added that lawmakers could direct their questions to the new speaker after parliament completed the election.

Ruben Rubinyan, the governing Civil Contract party’s candidate for speaker, later dismissed questions about Karekin II and said he did not recognize him as Catholicos.

“I do not recognize any Catholicos at this moment,” Rubinyan said.

Asked by Azatutyun why Karekin II had not been invited, Rubinyan referred to him by his birth name, Ktrij Nersisyan.

“If by ‘Catholicos’ you mean Ktrij Nersisyan, ask him where he is. How should I know?” Rubinyan said.

When reporters asked whether an invitation had been sent, Rubinyan said he had no role in the process.

“Go ask that man your questions,” he told journalists.

The exchange shows the widening rift between Armenia’s political leadership and the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the country’s oldest and most influential institutions.

The dispute moved into open confrontation in May 2025, when Pashinyan began calling for Karekin II’s removal. The governing Civil Contract party later included the issue in its election platform.

Under Armenian law, the Catholicos and the president are entitled to address parliament at the opening of its first session. Karekin II’s absence is the first time that the head of the Armenian Church had not taken part in the ceremony during Armenia’s post-Soviet history.

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