Diaspora Heavyweights Warn Pashinyan’s Dispute With the Apostolic Church Could Sever Armenia’s Ties With Its Diaspora
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Several well-known Armenian diaspora leaders have warned that the Armenian government’s dispute with the Armenian Apostolic Church could seriously harm Armenia’s relationship with Armenians around the world.
In an open letter published on Thursday, seven prominent figures said that the current approach taken by the government risks creating a deep divide between Armenia and the global Armenian community. They wrote that “even if unintentional, the Armenian government’s approach is risking severing its relationship with the diaspora – something not even the Ottoman Empire or the Soviet Union were able to do.”
The letter was signed by Noubar Afeyan, co-founder of Moderna; Anthony Barsamian, former chairman of the Armenian Assembly of America; Lord Ara Darzi of Denham, a British-Armenian surgeon and member of the U.K. House of Lords; UCLA physician and philanthropist Eric Esrailian; businessman Vatche Manoukian; French financier Joseph Oughourlian; and Berge Setrakian, former president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
The appeal comes at a time of growing tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is led by Catholicos Karekin II. In recent months, the dispute has become more intense. Legal actions have been launched against senior clergy, and government officials have publicly criticized the Church.
“Recently, persistent political discord in Armenia – including increasing conflict between leaders of the Armenian Government and the Armenian Apostolic Church – has reached a boiling point with government-led demands to oust the leader of the Church,” the letter states.
The signatories stressed that the Catholicos was elected according to church rules and traditions. They argued that if any changes are to be made in church leadership, they should take place within the Church’s own structures and not under pressure from the state.
They also raised concerns about criminal cases opened against members of the clergy and the imprisonment of Russian-Armenian businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan. “Several Archbishops have been imprisoned while accused of making political statements, and a prominent Russian-Armenian philanthropist and businessman has been imprisoned for publicly stating support for the church’s position,” the statement says.
The letter points to a planned synod of bishops that was scheduled to take place from February 17 to 19 in Vienna. The meeting was called by the Church to discuss internal challenges and issues facing the institution.
“The Church has already called for a synod of bishops … to be held in Vienna. Unfortunately, the government has reportedly served legal notices to several bishops denying them the right to leave the country to attend the meeting,” the signatories wrote.
In January, Armenian authorities imposed travel bans on several bishops ahead of the mid-February meeting in Vienna. As a result, they were prevented from attending the planned synod. According to the letter, the gathering in Vienna was expected to be followed by a session of the National Ecclesiastical Assembly, which is described as “the highest governing body of the Church and only this body elects the Catholicos.”
“The self-governance of the Church for continual improvement and reform is of critical importance,” the signatories said, urging that disagreements be resolved through the Church’s own governance mechanisms.
The authors also emphasized that the dispute has global consequences. They referred to Armenia’s adoption of Christianity in 301 AD and the important role the Church has played throughout Armenian history, including after the 1915 Genocide and during Soviet rule.
“It is the Church that helped the population survive and revive in the period after the Genocide; the Church that helped resurrect the Armenian soul; and the same Church that is needed for a globally dispersed ancient nation to thrive,” the letter says.
With around 3 million Armenians living in Armenia and an estimated 7 million living abroad, the signatories noted that decisions affecting the Church go far beyond the country’s borders.
“The Armenian church provides spiritual nourishment to all Armenians, including the vast majority of Armenians who are living outside of Armenia. As such, any attack or interference … with the Church’s governance or activities has a direct effect on Armenians throughout the world,” they wrote.
The letter ends with a call for calm and unity at what the authors describe as a turning point in Armenia’s history.
“Armenia stands at a critical crossroads in its history,” the letter concludes. “This is no time for internal divisions between Church and State in Armenia to weaken the global Armenian nation further. It is, indeed, the time to de-escalate this internal crisis so that the Armenian State, the Armenian Church and the Armenian diaspora can move forward into a new era of peace and prosperity.”
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