Prayer Breakfast in Armenia Nikol Pashinyan`s message to West -  ex-official 

ArmInfo.  By holding a Christian Prayer Breakfast in Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is telling the West that Armenia is no longer simply distancing itself from Russia, but is doing so in the language of civilizational  choice. For domestic audiences, he will appear as not just an  ordinary politician but also a "spiritual and political reformer,"  the bearer of a new civilizational path for the state. Former  Chairman of the State Revenue Committee and member of the Wings of  Unity political movement, David Ananyan, shared his opinion.

The Prayer Breakfast, organized and held in Armenia for the first  time on November 14-15, cannot, in essence, be perceived as a simple  religious ceremony. It arose at the intersection of politics, public  image- building, and state strategy, pursuing significantly broader  and far-reaching goals.

Nikol Pashinyan presented this format in Armenia not as a  continuation of tradition, but as a political science tool for  creating a new basis for the legitimacy of power for domestic and  foreign audiences," Ananyan wrote on his Facebook page, presenting  his thoughts on the reasons and goals for holding this event in the  Republic of Armenia.

Why now: in search of a new "moral" image?

The original format of this forum, originating in the United States,  was aimed at a reserved, closed, bipartisan spiritual dialogue.  However, the Armenian version presents a completely different  picture, the politician notes.

"The 2026 election processes are already beginning to take shape, and  the government's political capital is showing serious cracks: the  shadow of defeat in the war, territorial losses, declining public  trust, and a growing socio-political rift.

Under these circumstances, Pashinyan's team is attempting to elevate  political competition to a new level - to the realm of moral  leadership, where it's no longer simply about programs, but about  "values," "peace," and "civilizational choices." The prayer  breakfast, in essence, became the first act on this stage," Ananyan  believes.

Message to the West: "Armenia is a Christian, peaceful country  embracing Western values."

The recent period of foreign policy shows that Armenia is simulating  a rapid perestroika. For Pashinyan, this event is also a foreign  policy statement, the subtext of which is clear: Armenia is no longer  simply distancing itself from Russia, but is doing so in the language  of civilizational choice. The prayer breakfast is a symbolic bridge  for him to Washington, Brussels, and the Western political arena,  where such formats are perceived as "quiet but important" signals of  value identification, he emphasizes.

Message to the domestic audience: "I am not a political leader, but a  spiritual and moral leader."

In domestic policy, Pashinyan's goal is equally clear: he is  attempting to ascribe to himself not only political authority, but  also value and moral authority. That is, to present himself not as an  ordinary political figure, but as a "spiritual and political  reformer," the bearer of a new civilizational path for the state. And  this is where the main contradiction begins.

The Standoff Between the Armenian Government and the Armenian  Apostolic Church: A Breakup They Are Trying to Present as "Reform"

Ananyan notes that the "Prayer Breakfast" itself cannot ignore the  context in which it is being organized.  After all, it is taking  place amidst an open conflict between the government and the Armenian  Apostolic Church.

"We have witnessed pressure on the Catholicos of All Armenians,  criminal cases against the upper class and, in general, against the  clergy, attempts to diminish the national role of the Church, as well  as propaganda attacks with labels such as "medieval," "perverted," or  "corrupt."

Now a new formulation is being introduced: "We are not against  Christianity, we are simply cleansing it of dark influences."

This is not a religious, but a political position, the purpose of  which is clear: to form an alternative spiritual platform at the  state level, one that is not subject to the influence of Etchmiadzin  and is more manageable.

The Prayer Breakfast is just such a platform: soft, global,  ecumenical and politically safe.

What is the true goal, along three axes?

The combination of all this creates, Ananyan notes, perhaps the most  complex political construct of recent years, the three axes of which  are as follows:

1) Foreign policy: to demonstrate to the West that Armenia is not  only democratic, but also a member of the "Christian civilization."

2) Domestic policy: to regain lost legitimacy not through state  effectiveness, but through "moral leadership."

3) Electoral strategy for 2026: to present oneself not as a leader  responsible for the consequences of the war, but as a symbol of  "moral transformation." In other words, to replace the results of  governance with an emotional and value-based agenda.  Conclusion:  this is not a prayer, but a new concept of power.

The prayer breakfast in Armenia is a relevant strategic event that  simultaneously addresses several objectives. In particular, it  softens the anti-clerical image of the government, bypasses the  spiritual authority of the Armenian Apostolic Church, introduces a  new, controlled "spiritual format," and prepares a relaunch of  Pashinyan's political image in 2026.

Thus, although the event's name has religious overtones, its content  is entirely secular and political. In other words, there is less  prayer and much more statecraft," concludes David Ananyan.

Pashinyan attended the Christian Prayer Breakfast in the United  States in February and subsequently decided to emulate this  experience. The annual event, held in the United States, brings  together not only Christian organizations but also religious  organizations from various countries, including Muslim ones.

On the first day of the "Prayer Breakfast" in Armenia, November 14,  participants called on the Armenian authorities to release the  arrested clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.