AAC turning into a caste - RA premier 

ArmInfo.  Non-canonical phenomena are evident in the spiritual life of the Armenian people. This was stated by RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from the  parliamentary rostrum on August 24 during the presentation of the  government's program for 2026-2031, responding to a question from  Sevak Khachatryan, a member of parliament from the opposition  "Armenia" faction.

The MP, in particular, raised the issue of state interference in the  affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Church.  The parliamentarian  recalled the provision of the RA Constitution, according to which the  AAC is an autonomous entity and its activities are regulated by the  internal canons of the church.

In response, Nikol Pashinyan, recalling that he is a follower of the  Armenian Apostolic Church, chose not to delve into the legal aspect  of the issue, merely pointing out that something unpleasant is  happening to the Church; it has begun to turn into a caste. He  announced that, at his direction, a report is being prepared on the  deep systemic crisis in the Armenian Apostolic Church. "This document  presents dozens of facts indicating that Ktrich Nersisyan has taken  the Church beyond the bounds of canonical norms, with all the ensuing  consequences," Pashinyan noted. He added that the Church is not the  clergy, but the believing citizens of the country.

Pashinyan noted that a number of clergy, on Ktrich Nersisyan's direct  orders, call upon God to defend the Republic of Artsakh during  services, thereby, in his words, turning the Church into an  institution for promoting war. According to the Prime Minister, the  mention of the Republic of Artsakh and prayers for it during church  services are one of the reasons for the demands for the resignation  of Karekin II. It should be noted that Pashinyan addressed the  Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, by his secular name, after  which opposition MPs began banging their hands on their tables. In  response, Pashinyan asked them whether the man holding the position  of Catholicos has a sex life. "Answer this question, and bang as much  as you want," the Prime Minister remarked.

According to the government's program, the reform of the Armenian  Apostolic Holy Church is vitally important for addressing the problem  of building a values-based spiritual life. To ensure spiritual  security and prevent attempts by external forces to turn the Armenian  Apostolic Holy Church into a base for hybrid struggle and reform, the  removal (resignation) of the de facto head of the Armenian Apostolic  Holy Church will be ensured, elections for the Catholicosate will be  held in accordance with the established procedure, the adoption of  the Statute of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, which will  establish mechanisms for upholding established principles, ensuring  financial transparency and proper conduct of the clergy, and the  election of the Catholicos of all Armenians in accordance with the  established procedure will be ensured. 

The government also commits to including clergy representatives in  the state system of social guarantees and ensuring transparency in  church funding.