Detained philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan addresses church-state relations in new message

Detained businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan on Monday issued a new message, focusing on the protection of the Armenian Apostolic Church and national values.

Karapetyan said one of his Our Way movement’s priorities is to ensure that relations between the state and the church are structured in such a way that “no small group [referring to the ruling Civil Contract party] ever again contemplates an attack on our most important national institution.” He expressed confidence that, within Armenia’s current constitutional framework, this issue can be resolved swiftly through expert dialogue.

Karapetyan also stressed the need to make spiritual life an integral part of Armenians’ daily lives. According to him, many of the challenges facing society today, which threaten the moral character and health of future generations, stem from a lack of genuine spiritual nourishment. “A person who is materially satisfied but deprived of spiritual values and moral principles cannot bring real benefit to society, the state or the homeland,” he stressed.

Karapetyan also highlighted the Armenian Apostolic Church as inseparable from the nation’s identity and millennia-old culture, lamenting that Armenia has not fully showcased this heritage to the world since independence.

“In the near future, we must make sure everyone knows where Armenia is, where the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin stands and what rich legacy our Christian ancestors left to the world. We’ll do it our way,” reads the message.