Armenian Priest Refuses to Allow Pro-Pashinyan MP as Godfather in Bold Act of Defiance

In an act of defiance against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s campaign to undermine the Armenian Apostolic Church, an Armenian priest in Russia refused to allow a pro-government lawmaker to serve as godfather during a baptism ceremony. The decision has become yet another chapter in the ongoing struggle between the Armenian Church and a government increasingly accused of betraying national values.

The incident took place in the Armenian Church of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, where Father Sebeos Ghalachyan was scheduled to baptize a child earlier this week. Upon discovering that the chosen godfather was Narek Grigoryan, a lawmaker closely aligned with Pashinyan, Father Ghalachyan cancelled the ceremony. He explained that someone who disrespects the Catholicos and the Armenian Church could not be granted such a sacred honor.

“They consider the Armenian Church a den of terrorists, they consider Armenian bishops terrorists and keep them under arrest. Did I have the right to allow that so-called deputy to bear the honor that a godfather bears in the Armenian Church?” Father Ghalachyan asked.

Ghalachyan also revealed that Grigoryan responded with insults and threats, declaring he would physically remove His Holiness, Catholicos Karekin II, from the Patriarchate. This disrespectful behavior is part of a wider pattern from pro-government figures who have been vocal in their support of Pashinyan’s open attacks on church leadership.

Narek Grigoryan did not deny the confrontation. Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, he admitted to calling the priest “the devil” and threatened to “punish” priests who refuse to accept ruling party members as godfathers. His comments further exposed the deepening rift between Pashinyan’s political movement and the Armenian Church.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the oldest Christian institutions in the world, is not just a religious entity—it is deeply tied to the cultural identity and survival of the Armenian people. The Church has stood as a pillar of strength during genocide, exile, and war. Today, many see Pashinyan’s efforts to dismantle its authority as a betrayal of Armenia’s soul.

In recent weeks, Pashinyan has publicly demanded that Catholicos Karekin II resign, accusing church leaders of violating their vows. Critics say these accusations are politically motivated and meant to remove one of the last remaining institutions willing to oppose Pashinyan’s unilateral concessions to Azerbaijan.

On June 26, Pashinyan escalated the situation by threatening to forcibly remove Karekin from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the spiritual center of the Armenian Church. The next morning, security forces stormed the sacred grounds in an attempt to arrest Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan. They were met with resistance from hundreds of priests and civilians who had gathered to defend the Church.

Although Archbishop Ajapahyan later surrendered, the unprecedented raid sparked national outrage. Many Armenians saw the act as a violation of both constitutional law and centuries of sacred tradition. The Church is officially separate from the state under the Armenian Constitution, yet the prime minister's actions appear to undermine that separation.

Instead of backing down, Pashinyan doubled down. On July 7, he said that law enforcement should have the power to raid the Mother See again. The next day, he went even further, vowing to personally lead what he called its “liberation.”

To many Armenians around the world, this language and behavior are not only alarming—they are dangerous. The Church has long been a defender of Armenian sovereignty, morality, and heritage. Attempts to weaken or discredit it are seen as an effort to erase Armenia’s foundations.

As the standoff between the government and the Church continues, many within the Armenian diaspora and homeland are speaking out. They believe that no politician, regardless of their position, should be allowed to insult or threaten religious leaders, especially when those leaders have stood by the Armenian people during their darkest times.

The decision by Father Ghalachyan to reject Narek Grigoryan as a godfather is being celebrated as a principled stand. It shows a growing resistance within the clergy to political pressure and a determination to preserve the dignity of the Armenian Church.

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