Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced his intention to lead what he described as the “liberation” of Etchmiadzin—the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church—from what he called an “antichrist group.”

In a post published on his Facebook page, Pashinyan delivered a scathing rebuke of several high-ranking clerics, including Catholicos Garegin II (Ktrich Nersisyan), Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan (Vazgen Galstanyan), and Gevorg Ajapahyan, accusing them of being completely detached from the teachings of Jesus Christ, per Caliber.Az.

“Beyond all the debates, the most important thing has become clear during this time: the complete lack of connection and relationship between Ktrij Nersisyan, Vazgen Galstanyan, Gevorg Ajapakhyan, and several others with Jesus Christ and His teachings,” the prime minister wrote.

Pashinyan went further, claiming that the “house of Jesus Christ”—a reference to the Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church—is currently “occupied” by what he termed a “dogmatic, antichrist, anti-national, and anti-state group,” and declared that it “must be liberated.”

“I will lead this liberation,” he declared.

The prime minister’s statements follow weeks of escalating tensions, including the June 25, detention of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan on charges of coup plotting, which Pashinyan’s administration linked to alleged Russian-backed efforts to destabilise Armenia. On July 3, Pashinyan called for a snap election for the position of Catholicos.

The Armenian Apostolic Church has been at odds with Pashinyan since Armenia’s 2020 defeat in the Second Karabakh War, which triggered widespread protests. Garegin II called for Pashinyan’s resignation in December 2020, citing national instability. The tension escalated further following Armenia’s return of four border villages to Azerbaijan in May 2024, leading to protests led by the AAC and opposition figures such as Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, head of the “Holy Struggle” movement, demanding Pashinyan’s resignation and accusing his government of betraying national interests.

In response, the Armenian government has conducted over 90 searches, detaining over a dozen individuals, including senior clerics and opposition activists, on charges of terrorism and plotting a coup. Pashinyan has publicly accused the AAC, particularly Garegin II, of corruption and moral violations, including breaching celibacy vows, and has called for his resignation.

By Khagan Isayev

Source: caliber.az