Armenian Apostolic Church Responds to PM Pashinyan’s Offensive Rhetoric: “His Anti-Church Behavior Threatens Statehood and Unity”

A major confrontation is unfolding in Armenia—not on the battlefield, but between two powerful institutions: the government and the Armenian Apostolic Church. In a rare and sharply worded statement on Monday, the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Church accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of launching a politically motivated campaign to weaken the Church, warning that his actions pose a threat to Armenia’s national unity and statehood.

The public rebuke came after days of escalating tensions, including offensive social media posts by the Prime Minister and his allies, personal attacks on clergy, and calls for government interference in Church leadership.

What began as a political disagreement has now erupted into a full-blown spiritual crisis.

The Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church met on June 2 at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, led by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The gathering included bishops from both Armenia and the diaspora. The Council discussed the many challenges facing the homeland, with one issue dominating the agenda: Prime Minister Pashinyan’s latest public attacks against the Church.

In its official statement, the Church described the Prime Minister’s behavior as “impassioned and offensive,” accusing him of using profanity, spreading false claims, and trying to silence the Church’s voice in Armenian society. According to the Church, these actions are not just disrespectful—they are dangerous.

"Such actions divide society, weaken the national spirit, and undermine the patriotic consciousness of the people," the statement read. It also warned that Pashinyan’s rhetoric plays into the hands of “external forces hostile to Armenians”—an apparent reference to neighboring Azerbaijan, which has long attempted to tarnish Armenia’s reputation and undermine its institutions.

The latest flashpoint came on May 30, when Prime Minister Pashinyan used his personal Facebook page to post a string of controversial and vulgar comments targeting Church leaders. In one message, he referred to a bishop with an offensive accusation:

“Bishop, go back to doing what you were doing with your uncle’s wife. What do you want from me?”

He also questioned whether bishops have remained loyal to their vows of celibacy—statements many viewed as crossing both moral and political lines. Later, he specifically targeted Catholicos Karekin II, writing that if the spiritual leader had a child, he must step down—despite offering no proof.

Pashinyan framed his comments as part of a call for "spiritual security" and transparency. But for many Armenians, his tone and timing were alarming, especially given the Church's deep-rooted role in Armenian history and identity.

The Church and state in Armenia have not always seen eye to eye, but the rift has grown deeper in recent years. After Armenia’s defeat in the 2020 war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Church leaders were among the first to call for Pashinyan’s resignation. In 2023, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan led a nationwide protest movement that further challenged the Prime Minister’s leadership.

Since then, the government has increasingly questioned the Church’s legal status and financial independence. Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan has argued that the Church should be taxed unless it agrees to stricter oversight. And just days ago, Pashinyan proposed that all future candidates for Catholicos be subject to background checks—a move many see as a step toward state control over religious affairs.

Sunday’s statement from the Supreme Spiritual Council marks a major turning point. The Church made it clear that it views Pashinyan’s comments not as personal criticism, but as part of a wider strategy to marginalize a cornerstone of Armenian life.

“The Prime Minister’s anti-church behavior… carries destructive consequences and poses a threat to Armenian statehood and to the unity of our people,” the Church wrote.

It accused Pashinyan of trying to reduce the Church’s influence while Armenia is still reeling from war, ongoing threats from Azerbaijan, and rising public dissatisfaction. The Church declared that its mission—spiritual and national—will continue without compromise.

“We urge the faithful children of our Holy Church to remain united and steadfast… and never to allow the shaking of our national foundations.”

To his supporters, Pashinyan is challenging the religious institution. They argue that no one—not even the clergy—should be above public scrutiny. His government insists that greater transparency is needed in all public institutions, including the Church.

But to his critics—many of whom are not necessarily loyal to the Church—his methods are divisive and reckless. They accuse him of using aggressive language and attacking an institution that has long stood as a symbol of Armenian resilience—from the genocide and Soviet repression to the recent wars in Artsakh.

In its final words, the Church called for calm and national unity. It prayed that Armenians in the homeland and the diaspora would not be divided by “deplorable provocations” and would continue to live in “peace, prosperity, and progress.”

As Armenia faces threats from outside and uncertainty from within, many are now asking: is this the time for internal war with the Church? Or is it time to come together—for the sake of a nation that has already lost too much?

The answer, as always, may lie not in anger or accusation—but in unity, accountability, and respect for the institutions that have carried Armenia through its darkest hours.

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