Catholicos: An Attack on the Church Is an Attack on Armenian Identity and Faith

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II said peace must be based on justice and should not come at the expense of the Armenian people’s interests during a press conference held on June 2 at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The nearly hour-long press conference focused on relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian government, criminal proceedings launched against church figures, the activities of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, internal disagreements within the church, and the church’s position on Artsakh and displaced Armenians.

Speaking about criticism directed at the Armenian Apostolic Church by Armenian authorities and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Karekin II said the church is prepared to defend its rights and independence.

“The church is prepared in every way not to allow any structure or authority to interfere in the church’s internal life or attempt to subject the church to its will,” the Catholicos said.

According to Karekin II, protecting the church also means protecting the Armenian people and their faith. He said the Armenian Apostolic Church will continue its historic mission regardless of changing political circumstances.

During the press conference, journalists also asked about accusations by government representatives that the church is involved in political activity.

“The church does not engage in politics. Political activity is carried out by parties,” Karekin II responded.

He stated that the church cannot become connected to any political force because it must remain the church of all Armenians.

“On issues and problems concerning our country and our people, which have received public attention and may place our people before dangerous situations, the church has a primary duty to raise its voice and express its position in defense of the interests of our people and homeland,” he said.

The Catholicos also responded to questions regarding accusations by government representatives that he violated his vow of celibacy. Karekin II said such matters must be examined only within church courts and ecclesiastical structures.

“I do not think it is correct in any way for clergymen to respond separately to individual accusations or make statements. There is one institution, the church court, where a clergyman will answer all questions, whether they are fair or slanderous,” he said.

The issue of Artsakh and the church’s references to Artsakh Armenians during religious services was also raised during the press conference.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had previously accused some clergy members of becoming part of a “party of war” and criticized references to the Republic of Artsakh during church services.

Karekin II rejected the idea that speaking about justice and the protection of rights is equal to promoting war.

“We raise prayers to God for our children of Artsakh and for the rights of our people of Artsakh. Peace must be based on justice, not become the result of one-sided concessions against the interests of our people. We are obliged to make every effort so that justice is realized for our people of Artsakh,” he said.

The Catholicos also spoke about the history of tensions between the Armenian government and the church. He recalled that shortly after the 2018 change of power in Armenia, an anti-church movement emerged under the slogan “New Armenia, New Patriarch,” with protesters demanding his resignation.

According to Karekin II, relations with the authorities later stabilized for a period, though he said it is difficult to identify exactly when relations again became strained.

He recounted that during one meeting with bishops, Prime Minister Pashinyan expressed concern about the influence of a strong church on Armenian statehood.

“When the church has historically been strong, it has posed a danger to Armenian statehood,” the Catholicos quoted the prime minister as saying.

Karekin II also pointed to several government decisions that he believes negatively affected the church, including removing the subject “History of the Armenian Church” from school programs, ending spiritual leadership in the military, limiting clergy work in penitentiary institutions, and restricting the broadcasting of Shoghakat TV.

“I do not know whether all these difficulties are also to some extent connected with the position we have shown by raising the issue of protecting the rights of our displaced children from Artsakh at various levels, as well as issues concerning our captured children and the destruction of our spiritual and cultural heritage,” he said.

The Catholicos confirmed that more than a dozen criminal proceedings have been launched against representatives of the church. According to him, the goal behind those actions is to place the church under political control.

“If they resort to such action in order to achieve that goal and arrest the Armenian Patriarch, naturally we must submit to the law in force. If it is unjust, naturally all means must be used so that justice prevails,” he said.

Karekin II added that even if such actions cannot be prevented, he is prepared to endure what he described as unjust punishment.

The Catholicos also addressed the movement led in 2024 by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. According to Karekin II, the movement originally began in Tavush during the delimitation and demarcation process and was initially focused on defending local residents in Kirants.

“Archbishop Bagrat’s movement began in the Tavush region in connection with the delimitation and demarcation process, when the people of Kirants experienced outrage and rose up. The issue was discussed within our church circles, and Archbishop Bagrat stated that the movement would not have a political nature. We advised Archbishop Bagrat that in such situations a leader must stand beside his people from the position of defending the rights of his faithful children,” he said.

Karekin II stated that after the movement later entered political processes, the church suspended its spiritual involvement in the movement. At the same time, he defended Archbishop Bagrat against accusations brought against him and described him as a patriotic and devoted clergyman.

The Catholicos also rejected accusations made by Armenian authorities and Armenia’s National Security Service that the Armenian Apostolic Church operates under Russian influence.

“The church serves God, the nation, and the homeland. Our church does not serve the interests of any country,” he declared.

According to Karekin II, such accusations are aimed at creating a false image of the church among the Armenian public.

Internal disagreements within the church were also discussed during the press conference. Karekin II acknowledged that some bishops had joined the authorities’ reform agenda, though he said the church continues encouraging them to return to what he described as the canonical field.

He declined to describe them as traitors and said their actions would be examined within church structures.

“That is an act committed by them, which will be examined within the appropriate structures and an appropriate decision will be made,” the Catholicos said.

Relations between the Armenian government and the Armenian Apostolic Church entered a period of open confrontation in late May 2025, shortly after Karekin II participated in an international conference in Switzerland dedicated to Artsakh Armenians.

Prime Minister Pashinyan’s intention to reform the Armenian Apostolic Church was later reflected in the Civil Contract party’s election program published in April under the section titled “Agenda for the Reform of the Armenian Apostolic Church.”

However, tensions between the church and the government had already been developing for years following Pashinyan’s rise to power in 2018.

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