ArmInfo. The Armenian Army will continue to have a spiritual service, but it will now report to the Moral and Psychological Support Department of the Armenian Armed Forces (AF), as dual subordination is not permitted in the army. Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan stated this in a conversation with journalists on February 6, commenting on the decree abolishing the Spiritual Service of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Armed Forces and terminating the military chaplaincy program, which has been in effect for two decades.
According to the minister, spiritual service in the army has not been discontinued; changes have been made to the Defense Minister's decree, which affect the nature of the service. Papikyan dismissed everything else as speculation. "According to the published decree, we can enter into contracts with clergy trained at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin so that they can serve and fulfill their mission in the Armed Forces," Papikyan stated.
However, he rejected claims that his decision is aimed at consigning the sacred service of chaplains to oblivion. "If someone considers military service to be oblivion, that's their personal business. All institutions in Armenia are functioning, and if someone is not satisfied with this decision, they can appeal it. However, all my actions are lawful," the minister stated.
Papikyan also dismissed as rumors reports that chaplains were offered money to participate in Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's anti-church campaign, and that it was their refusal to join this campaign that forced the Defense Ministry leadership to abolish the primacy of the clergy in the Armed Forces. As a reminder, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan signed a decree abolishing the Spiritual Service of the Armenian Apostolic Church within the Ministry of Defense in the Armenian Armed Forces, effective February 1, 2026. Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan pointed out that with this decision, the minister violated the requirement of Article 10 of the Law "On Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church," which stipulates that the Armenian Apostolic Church has the right to have a permanent spiritual representative in military units. As a result of this decree, only eight of the 42 chaplains of the Primate can continue serving in the Armenian Armed Forces.
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