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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he will attend a Divine Liturgy at the Holy Mother of God Church in Garni on Sunday.
Pashinyan said on social media that he expects the clergymen serving the liturgy not to mention the name of Catholicos Karekin II during the service because, as he has repeatedly stated, the Church leader is allegedly holding office illegitimately. He again referred to Karekin II by his secular name, Ktrij Nersisyan, as a sign that he does not recognize him as the legitimate head of the Church.
“On December 28, that is, tomorrow, I will attend the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Mother of God Church in Garni. My expectation there is that the name of Ktrij Nersisyan will not be mentioned during the liturgy, for the reasons and justifications previously presented. Incidentally, there are people who say that when they attend liturgies in different churches and the name of Ktrich Nersisyan is mentioned, they feel the urge to express their protest at that very moment and ask whether such an action is possible and permissible. I believe that yes, it is possible and permissible, because it is a legitimate expectation. When those who have declared themselves to be exalted and to live by certain rules have not fulfilled those rules, are not fulfilling them, and are not prepared to confront that fact, we, as followers of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church, must not only form an attitude toward this reality, but also express that attitude and ultimately achieve practical outcomes stemming from it,” Pashinyan said.
Pashinyan has previously stated that Catholicos Karekin II is illegitimate, alleging that he violated his vow of celibacy by fathering a child. Karekin II and several clergymen have accused Pashinyan of waging an anti-church campaign. Pashinyan has denied this, describing himself as a “devoted follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church” who is fighting against those who have “desecrated the Church’s sanctities.”
The Prime Minister and other government officials, as well as ruling party members, have been regularly attending Sunday liturgies in various churches.
Earlier in December, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented a plan he described as a “roadmap for reforming” the Armenian Apostolic Church after Catholicos Karekin II steps down—something the latter has so far refused to do.
The “roadmap” envisions the election of a locum tenens following Karekin II’s removal. It also calls for the adoption of a new Canon Law, which would address, among other issues, rules and guarantees related to the integrity of clergymen and the financial transparency of the Church. Ultimately, the plan envisions the election of a new Catholicos in accordance with the provisions of the new Canon Law, which would be adopted by an authorized church body.