3 minute read
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has proposed to create a “coordinating council” that would organize a new election of a Catholicos, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, replacing incumbent Karekin II, whom Pashinyan has accused of violating the vow of celibacy and fathering a child, thus deeming him illegitimate.
“Dear faithful followers of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church. I address you as one of you,” Pashinyan said on social media. “We need to take effective steps in the direction of [liberating] the Seat of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin and organize new elections of a Catholicos.”
He said at this stage a coordinating council would be created to deal with organizational matters.
Pashinyan said the council is open to all “followers” of the Armenian Church who “with all spirit believe in our Living Lord, Jesus Christ; have read the Bible entirely at least once; have observed Lent at least once in the past five years; pray every day; believe that the agenda of reforming the Mother See is in the interests of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, our people, our state, and is in line with the sacred contribution of our ancestors.”
Regular citizens as well as clergy can join the council, he said. Pashinyan said in case of clergy the adherence to the vow of celibacy is a requirement.
Pashinyan said he would select the first 10 members himself. Then, he said, the council will determine expansion itself. The PM asked people willing to join the council to send their information to nikolpashinyan@gmail.com.
“During this activity, numerous words of temptation will be voiced, we will be accused of various sins. Look at all this with the eyes of your spirit, listen to the voice of our Living Lord, Jesus Christ, and be guided by it,” the PM said.
In response to the accusations, the clergy had earlier accused PM Pashinyan of waging an anti-church campaign.
