World Council of Churches Warns Armenian Government to Respect Religious Freedom

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has released a statement, expressing serious concern over the Armenian government’s recent actions against the Armenian Apostolic Church. This comes during growing tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration and the historic Church, which has served as the spiritual heart of the Armenian people for over 1,700 years.

The World Council of Churches, a global Christian organization representing over 500 million Christians worldwide, condemned the government’s forceful interference at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—the spiritual headquarters of the Armenian Church—and the reported detention of senior clergy members.

The WCC’s message is clear: the actions of the Pashinyan government threaten the religious freedom and spiritual integrity of one of the oldest Christian institutions in the world. Their statement described the Armenian Apostolic Church as an “irreplaceable member of the worldwide Christian family,” with a sacred role in the identity and unity of the Armenian nation.

The council’s alarm comes after reports that law enforcement officers entered sacred spaces and detained members of the clergy—an act that violates not only the sanctity of worship but also the legal protections and dignity owed to religious leaders. These moves are seen by many as politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to weaken the Church’s influence in Armenian society.

The WCC called on the Armenian government to immediately stop any form of pressure or aggression directed at religious institutions. It warned against the use of hostile public language that could deepen divisions in an already fragile society. As Armenia faces internal challenges and regional instability, the Church has been a constant source of unity, continuity, and moral guidance for Armenians around the world.

This international rebuke puts Prime Minister Pashinyan’s leadership under greater scrutiny. Critics accuse his administration of trying to marginalize the Church, which has often spoken out against the government’s policies—especially during moments of national crisis, including the aftermath of the 2020 war and the forced displacement of Armenians from Artsakh.

By calling for open dialogue, legal respect, and an end to antagonistic rhetoric, the WCC joins a growing chorus of voices warning that Armenia’s democratic values are being eroded. The Church, once the only unifying structure for Armenians during centuries of foreign rule and genocide, is again being forced to defend its right to exist without political interference.

In its closing remarks, the WCC reaffirmed its solidarity with the Armenian Apostolic Church and urged Armenian leaders to show wisdom, respect, and a commitment to peace and religious freedom.

As pressure mounts from both inside and outside Armenia, the people of this ancient Christian nation are being forced to choose between a government determined to centralize power and a Church that has always stood by the Armenian people—even in their darkest hours.

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