Armenian Minister Insists New Catholicos Will Be Chosen Lawfully, as Government Denies Undermining Church Authority

The Armenian government has stated that any process to elect a new Catholicos of All Armenians will be done strictly within the bounds of the country's Constitution and laws. The comments come after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the formation of a working group to examine concerns related to His Holiness Karekin II, the current leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan spoke to reporters in Parliament on Wednesday, stressing that the government has no intention of breaking the law or undermining the Church’s moral and spiritual authority.

“Please have no doubt about this,” Minister Khudatyan said. “Everything that this working group does will be based only on the Constitution and current laws of the Republic of Armenia.”

The government’s announcement has stirred concern among many faithful Armenians, who view the Church not only as a religious institution but as a symbol of the nation’s survival through centuries of hardship and genocide. Many worry that government interference in Church affairs could damage this sacred relationship.

But Minister Khudatyan rejected such concerns, saying the Church and the state are still separate, and that the working group would not be taking any political action. Instead, he said the group is being formed in good faith to examine specific issues, including a reported violation of the vow of celibacy by the current Catholicos—an issue the Prime Minister had earlier referenced.

“This is not about politics,” Khudatyan said. “The Prime Minister has said that this matter is important to him personally, and to us all as Armenian Christians.”

He made it clear that the working group would not be made up of government officials but of ordinary citizens—and possibly even clergymen, whether current or retired. Its rules of operation, he added, will be made public soon, showing that nothing about the process goes against the Constitution or the law.

“All our actions during the past seven years have followed the law,” Khudatyan said. “I completely rule out any situation where we act against the law, the Constitution, or moral values.”

Critics, including opposition leaders and members of the diaspora, have accused the government of targeting Church leaders in order to silence one of the few powerful voices still critical of current national policies, especially regarding Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

The Armenian Church has long played a central role in national life—protecting Armenian identity during centuries of foreign domination, and serving as a unifying force during times of war, displacement, and crisis. For many Armenians, including in the diaspora, the idea of the state attempting to “replace” the Catholicos has raised fears of government overreach into spiritual life.

Still, the government insists that no such takeover is being planned. Instead, officials say the aim is to uphold moral integrity within the Church and ensure transparency for the faithful. Khudatyan stressed that any future steps will be guided not just by legality, but by deep respect for Armenian values and Christian traditions.

“We are Armenians. We are Christians,” he said. “This is why we are approaching this issue with care, dignity, and responsibility.”

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