Pashinyan: The Armenian Holy Apostolic Church has been seized by Ktrich Nersisyan

ArmInfo. The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church has been seized by Ktrich Nersisyan (Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II) and a group of clergy and laity supporting him. RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this on his Facebook page.

According to him, the Public Relations and Information Center of the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia published a report on the situation in the Armenian Apostolic Church and possible solutions. Pashinyan noted that the report was prepared in accordance with the RA government's program for 2026-2031, which includes relevant provisions, and at the instruction of the Prime Minister. "Nevertheless, upon reviewing the provisions of the draft report, I have determined for myself that the situation that has developed in the Armenian Apostolic Church is far more grave and crisis-ridden than I initially imagined," the head of the Armenian government said, adding that the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church has been seized by Ktrich Nersisyan and a group of clergy and laypersons assisting him.

It should be noted that the authors of the report identify 16 circumstances that, in their assessment, indicate a crisis in the Armenian Apostolic Church. Among them, the document cites alleged violations of the vow of celibacy, the persecution and defrocking of clergy, financial opacity and misuse of church property, the ordination of relatives and "clan governance," the politicization of the Holy See and external influence, the prolonged hiatus in holding the National Church Council, the absence of a unified Church Constitution, and schisms in the dioceses of the Diaspora. The authors offer a five-step "roadmap" for overcoming the situation, which they characterize as a crisis.