Armenia’s Church-State Feud Deepens: Pashinyan Eyes Seizures, Schism Looms

Armenia is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in tensions between the state and the Armenian Apostolic Church (AATC), as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced his intention to seize church buildings. Pashinyan, speaking from parliament, declared that he could not idly stand by while elements he described as “thieves and perjurers” operated within the church. He asserted that, as a devout Christian, he aimed to reform the spiritual landscape, with worship services continuing in nationalized churches, led by clergy he deems genuinely righteous.

The Prime Minister painted a grim picture of spiritual life in Armenia, alleging that it was actively obstructed by Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the AATC, and his loyal clergy. In a impassioned parliamentary address, Pashinyan questioned how a value-based society could be built when “the epicenter of the values of society itself is polluted.”

Pashinyan, however, presented a solution to this perceived crisis. He highlighted that many churches are officially under the Armenian government’s balance sheet, providing a legal avenue for their appropriation from the AATC. “I believe that where there is no spiritual life, but rather intrigues, manipulations, and groups spreading fake news, we have every moral and legal ground to return these churches to society,” Pashinyan emphasized.

This move is not sudden. The Prime Minister’s “anti-church campaign” has been ongoing since at least May, initially targeting corruption and advocating for greater integrity among the clergy. It has since evolved into accusations of an anti-government conspiracy involving the highest echelons of church leadership. Pashinyan cited the defrocking of Father Aram Asatryan, the abbot of the ancient and revered Ovanavank monastery, as the final straw that broke his patience.

Father Asatryan became a central figure in this conflict when he publicly sided with the secular leadership against his ecclesiastical superiors. He reportedly omitted mentions of the Catholicos and his diocesan head (Karekin II’s nephew, Mkrtich Proshyan) from liturgy for a month. Later, in an interview with Public Television, Asatryan claimed church authorities had coerced him into participating in opposition rallies. This led to a criminal case by the Investigative Committee for coercion to protest, resulting in Proshyan’s two-month arrest and the prospect of a longer prison sentence.

Pashinyan publicly endorsed Asatryan, stating, “These events, which I followed, convinced me that the Ovanavank church is a place where one can live a spiritual life… I just want to join that community, whose spiritual pastor is Asatryan.” Consequently, Pashinyan resolved that only priests like Asatryan should continue to serve in the churches reclaimed from the AATC. He also controversially questioned Karekin II’s authority to defrock anyone, citing alleged personal breaches of his celibacy vows.

In a clear demonstration of his intent, the Prime Minister vowed to attend a church service led by Father Asatryan at Ovanavank the following Sunday.

Key political allies quickly echoed Pashinyan’s sentiments. Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan publicly dismissed Catholicos Karekin II, asserting that “Ktrich Nersisyan must understand that he should not drive us to the point of no return… He will leave anyway.” Simonyan also pledged to attend the Sunday liturgy. Vahagn Aleksanyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party, went further, labeling the current AATC leadership as an “election headquarters” for former President Robert Kocharyan. “What does a believer have to do with Ktrich Nersisyan? He is not a Catholicos to be removed; he is Ktrich Nersisyan, who is in the Mother See. By God’s will, he will leave from there himself,” Aleksanyan added, portraying Asatryan’s defrocking as an attack on Etchmiadzin by Kocharyan’s supporters.

For his part, Catholicos Karekin II has defiantly declared his readiness to withstand any pressure, stating he is prepared to lead the church “even from prison.” This stance comes amidst a broader crackdown; beyond Proshyan, Archbishops Bagrat Galstanyan and Mikael Ajapahyan have also been arrested, facing charges ranging from organizing a coup to inciting rebellion. Archbishop Natan Hovhannisyan was summoned for questioning regarding a conversation with a former priest who complained about being forced into protests, though Hovhannisyan refused to testify, citing illegal recording.

Political analyst Hrant Mikaelyan suggests that Pashinyan’s true objective extends beyond merely addressing corruption; he aims to orchestrate a schism within the Armenian Apostolic Church. Mikaelyan asserts that the Prime Minister views the AATC as a threat to the regional peace he seeks to forge with Azerbaijan, leading him to fragment its influence. Pashinyan is reportedly engaging with figures like Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Istanbul and Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia in Lebanon, as well as recruiting former priests who were previously marginalized by the AATC.

According to Mikaelyan, the success of this strategy hinges on Pashinyan’s political longevity. Should the Civil Contract party lose the upcoming parliamentary elections next year, the attempt at schism might be forgotten. However, a victory for Pashinyan would usher in “the most difficult times” for the Armenian Apostolic Church. While a complete obliteration of the church is unlikely, noted Mikaelyan, drawing a parallel with the Ukrainian authorities’ inability to fully dismantle the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), the AATC would undoubtedly face severe destabilization and erosion of its influence. It faces a defining moment that could reshape its role in Armenian society for generations to come.