Cleric says Pashinyan has no authority over church patriarchate

Ruben Vardapet (Archimandrite) Zargaryan criticized the country’s political leadership on Saturday, stating that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has no authority to influence the leadership or succession of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In a Facebook post, Zargaryan said Armenia’s “infamous leader, who has been mocked and ridiculed” by foreign counterparts, “cannot decide the fate of the throne or the patriarch of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin”.

“The Armenian Constitution grants him no such power,” he wrote. “This is not only a matter of dignity for the Armenian clergy, the guarantors of the patriarchal throne, but also for Armenian citizens, whom the prime minister represents with his disgraceful behavior.”

In conclusion, Zargaryan cited a proverb from the Bible: “A wicked messenger falls into adversity, but a faithful envoy brings healing.” (Proverbs 13:17).