Armenian Church condemns state interference as government push escalates

(Horizon Weekly) — The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has issued a firm and pointed response to the Armenian government’s escalating involvement in Church affairs, warning that recent actions threaten both ecclesiastical order and national unity.

In an official statement, the Armenian Apostolic Church rejected attempts to interfere in its internal life, stressing that Holy Etchmiadzin is not a political institution but the spiritual foundation of the Armenian nation. The Church underscored that it has endured centuries of external pressure and internal trials, yet has remained a unifying force for Armenians worldwide. The statement cautioned that current developments risk sowing division at a time when Armenia faces profound security and societal challenges.

The Church’s reaction follows a series of moves by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and figures aligned with his government to reshape Church leadership and governance. Government-backed clerics and political allies have advanced proposals that would effectively sideline the Catholicos of All Armenians and introduce a new governing structure under the guise of reform. Church officials view these initiatives as a direct violation of canonical order and an unprecedented intrusion of state power into religious life.

Public criticism of the government’s actions has intensified, with prominent voices warning that Pashinyan’s campaign against the Church mirrors earlier efforts to neutralize independent institutions. Critics argue that the Prime Minister is attempting to weaken the Church’s moral authority at a moment when it remains one of the few national institutions not fully subordinated to the executive. They have also pointed to the political timing of the initiative, noting that it coincides with mounting dissatisfaction over security failures, territorial losses, and unresolved national trauma.

The current standoff follows a highly charged incident in mid-December, when a group of bishops publicly called for the Catholicos’s resignation and appeared at Holy Etchmiadzin to issue a statement. Their actions sparked an immediate backlash, as large numbers of faithful gathered at the Mother See in defence of the Church leadership, underscoring widespread resistance to attempts to politicize the institution.

As tensions persist, the Armenian Apostolic Church has reiterated its call for restraint and respect for constitutional and canonical boundaries. Church leaders have warned that undermining the Church will not strengthen the state, but instead deepen internal fractures at a time when Armenia’s cohesion is already under severe strain.