Armenian Church Council warns of plot to seize control

The Pan-Armenian Council for the Protection of the Armenian Church has issued a statement alleging that secret negotiations are being conducted by state-political centers with several priests, proposing that they assume the position of “acting patriarch” in an attempt to bring the authority of the Armenian Church under political control.

“The scenario of appointing an ‘acting patriarch’ to later elevate him to Catholicos is an act of sacrilege, an attempted usurpation of power, and a conspiracy against both the canonical order of the Church and the constitutional foundations of the Republic of Armenia,” the statement declares.

It emphasizes that matters of ecclesiastical leadership fall strictly within the realm of canonical jurisdiction.

“Any involvement by state bodies in this process constitutes unconstitutional interference. A politically appointed ‘acting patriarch’ would be an illegal imposition of authority within the Church, likely leading to deep division and international discredit. Officials and intermediaries involved in this process will bear personal legal responsibility for abuse of office, violation of freedom of conscience and religion, and incitement of hostility toward the community.”

The Council appeals to the clergy, urging any priest approached with such a proposal to firmly reject it. “Any priest who consents to a political appointment as ‘acting patriarch’ breaks canonical obedience and becomes a tool against the Church’s autonomy.”

Such an act, the statement continues, will be regarded as betrayal of their clerical oath and collaboration with a political plan aimed at dismantling the Church’s internal structure.

“We warn government officials: any attempt to influence Church governance, introduce an ‘acting patriarch,’ or manipulate the election process will be documented and may trigger legal proceedings both domestically and internationally. From this moment on, every action is being recorded.”

The Council confirms that it will continue monitoring and documenting developments and may publicly disclose the identities and networks involved.

“We demand an end to this conspiracy,” the statement concludes.

During a press conference, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, responding to a question on how he intends to ‘liberate’ the Mother See, said it would be done the same way Armenia was ‘freed’ from Serzh Sargsyan in 2018. He later called for preparations for a “Great Spiritual Meeting” at the central square of Etchmiadzin. On Facebook, Pashinyan presented his vision for change at the Mother See: to ‘liberate’ it from the Catholicos, appoint a morally upright priest as acting patriarch—without eligibility for Catholicos—and to delay new Catholicos elections until the Armenian Apostolic Church Charter is adopted.