Prayer Breakfast Participants Call for Release of Imprisoned Clergy in Armenia

Armenia hold first Prayer Breakfast in Yerevan on Nov. 14

Participants in Armenia’s first-ever “Prayer Breakfast” have called on the authorities to release several clergy members who are currently remanded as part of Prime Minister’s Nikol Pashinyan’s crusade against Holy Etchmiadzin, Catholicos Karekin II and what is being viewed as an attack on the Armenian Church.

The event, which kicked off Friday at Yerevan’s Marriott Hotel, is modeled after Prayer Breakfasts held in the United States and brought together 300 participants, including religious leaders, diplomats and civic activists.

The Holy See of Etchmiadzin emphasized that it did not organize the event, but has sent Bishop Daniel Findikian, a cleric from the U.S., as its representative.

“He participated only in one panel discussion. The participation of our Mother See was limited to that,” Father Yesayi Artenian, director of the Holy Etchmiadzin’s public information department told Azatutyun.am, stressing that the event does not align with traditional Armenian Church practices.

Findikian reminded the Prayer Breakfast participants that “three of my brothers” are in prison, listing the names of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Mikael Ajapahyan and Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, who have been remanded to custody as they await trial on charges of allegedly attempting to overthrown the regime.

“They are all imprisoned by the Armenian government,” Findikian later wrote on X.

Asif Mahmud, vice chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, also spoke out in support of the imprisoned bishops.

“I am deeply concerned by reports of the arrest of clergy in Armenia. I call on the authorities to respect due process and release them,” Mahmud said.

Joel Veldkamp, of Christian Solidarity International, highlighted the imprisonment of four clergymen and over 20 of their supporters, describing the situation as political persecution in Armenia. He urged attendees to raise these concerns and criticized government repression.

According to the Prayer Breakfast’s official website, the two-day event in Armenia is “initiated and organized by Armenian civil society, with the support and participation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.”

Pashinyan addressed the Prayer Breakfast participants during a dinner Friday evening, saying that the event was organized by Armenian civil society, and aims to promote dialogue and cooperation, based on Armenia’s historical, Christian identity, peace, leadership based on moral principles, and religious freedom.

He touted Armenia’s religious tolerance, without address his government’s campaign against the Church.

“The long-term goal of the Prayer Breakfast is to form a vision and view Armenia as a leading country in religious freedom and prosperity, with a society based on faith, partnership, innovation, and peace,” Pashinyan said.
During the opening of the Prayer Breakfast, President Vahagn Khachatrian addressed the gathering and did not bring up the tensions between the Church and State.

He highlighted the value of dialogue, saying that such platforms “remind us that different opinions and beliefs can unite around a common goal for solidarity and a peaceful future.”

Planned activities for Saturday include visits to the Holy Etchmiadzin, local churches, and museums, with around 20 guests expressing interest in meeting with Catholicos Karekin II. Etchmiadzin officials have confirmed the Catholicos will be on hand to receive the guests.