Pashinyan says ready to discuss Church reforms with Karekin II if he accepts agenda

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that he would meet Catholicos Karekin II, whom he considers illegitimate, to discuss the government’s Church reform agenda if the Church leader accepts that agenda.

“If Karekin II or Ktrij Nersisyan accepts the reform agenda of the Armenian Apostolic Church, I solemnly declare from this podium that I will sit down and discuss that agenda with him with the utmost respect,” Pashinyan said in parliament, referring to the Church leader by his secular name.

“I have never said that there are [insiders] and [outsiders], some of whom may observe the rules of conduct while others may not. The agenda for reforming the Armenian Apostolic Church is clearly formulated: rules of conduct and clear mechanisms for ensuring compliance with those rules.

How can we tolerate it when our holiest of holies is afflicted? Let us put everything else aside: whether you want to call him the Catholicos, Karekin II, or Ktrij Nersisyan, beyond all that, there are facts that every citizen of the Republic of Armenia and every believer knows,” Pashinyan said, referring to allegations that Karekin II has fathered a child in violation of his vow of celibacy and should therefore step down.

In response to Strong Armenia faction leader MP Narek Karapetyan’s statement that 97% of Armenian citizens trust the Church, Pashinyan said:

“The opposition representative says that 97% of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia believe in the Church. Of course they do. That is precisely where the problem lies: 97% of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia believe, while the head of the Church does not believe in God at all, has no spiritual life, has renounced his covenant with God, and this breach of the covenant has been imposed on all of us. I am not prepared to bear responsibility for that breach of the covenant,” Pashinyan said.

The Pashinyan administration’s 2026–2031 program includes an agenda for reforming the Armenian Apostolic Church, including the removal of its current head, Catholicos Karekin II, from office and the holding of new elections for the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Pashinyan and other members of his administration have repeatedly accused Karekin II of illegitimately holding office and called on him to step down. He has so far refused to do so and denied any wrongdoing.