Pashinyan, 10 senior clerics announce bid to 'reform' Armenian Apostolic Church

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and 10 senior clerics say they have agreed on a roadmap to “reform” the Armenian Apostolic Church, including the removal of its current head and the election of a new catholicos.

In a video released on Sunday, Pashinyan said he and the clerics had discussed and agreed the text of a joint declaration after hours of talks at his residence. Eight of the 10 bishops were present, according to the statement.

The declaration accuses the church leader and his close associates of failing to live and preach Gospel principles, tolerating moral abuses and improperly drawing the church into politics and external agendas. It calls such practices unacceptable and says they have led to internal divisions and a decline in spiritual life.

Under the proposed roadmap, the signatories said they would publicly launch a reform agenda, remove Catholicos Karekin II, appoint an interim caretaker (locum tenens), adopt a church charter setting rules on governance, financial transparency and clerical conduct and then elect a new Catholicos of All Armenians.

The group also announced the formation of a coordinating council to oversee the reform process, which it said could be expanded by unanimous decision.

Pashinyan called on clergy and believers to support and join the reform effort. He also pointed to upcoming church services at St. Sarkis Church and a Christmas liturgy at Yerevan’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral on January 5 as key moments in the process.

The declaration bears Pashinyan’s signature alongside those of 10 archbishops and bishops.