Pashinyan vs. Etchmiadzin: who is who?

The confrontation between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the church is gaining momentum.

Pashinyan is the first Armenian in history to take a risk against the church. So far, none of the politicians has dared to do this. On the contrary, those who wanted to seize power and keep the people in subjection tried to cooperate with the Armenian Apostolic Church, seeing in it a guarantee of the strength of their "throne." Scoundrels like Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, and the leaders of the separatist regime during the occupation actively resorted to tools provided by the church and stayed close to Etchmiadzin. This closeness was very harmonious, because the postulates on which the Armenian national idea was based were invented outside the church walls.

The fact is that the Armenian Church is not so much a religious as a political institution that has led the expansion of Armenians in the region for centuries. The Church organized and rallied Armenians, incited hatred and violence, and justified the atrocities of the nationalists, which is not surprising, since they acted on its instructions. Of course, religious institutions of all faiths have a political component, but the Armenian Church has gone the furthest, completely replacing spirituality with political goals and motivating its flock to commit atrocities in order to expand its habitat. The idea of racial superiority and primogeniture of Armenians belongs to the church. Dozens of generations have been brought up on these ideas, and other countries and peoples should not be blamed for the current troubles of Armenia and Armenians. The main evil has always been the mentality of a society saturated with the postulates of misogyny. The responsibility for the karma of an entire nation, burdened with crimes, lies precisely with the Armenian Apostolic Church.

It is unlikely that Pashinyan is looking so far ahead, going into battle with Etchmiadzin and personally with Prince Nersesyan (Garegin). Nevertheless, this block, which has always blocked the path to reason and light for the Armenian people, must be moved. No matter what the motives of these changes are.

Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that on November 2 he will take part in the liturgy at the Hovhannavank Church, which, as last Sunday, will be served by the defrocked Father Aram (Stepan Asatryan in the world). This was stated by Pashinyan himself on Facebook. The Prime Minister once again accused Catholicos Garegin of violating his vow of celibacy and, consequently, being ineligible to defrocket anyone.

"Therefore, Father Aram can celebrate the liturgy in Hovhannavank, and I, like last Sunday, will also participate in the holy and immortal liturgy in Hovhannavank this Sunday," Pashinyan said.

Recall that last Sunday, Pashinyan, his team and members of the ruling party attended the liturgy, which was conducted by the demoted Asatryan.

After that, the Prime Minister wrote on social media that "these liturgies are part of the program for the liberation of Etchmiadzin and the renewal of the Armenian Church.

It should be noted that other defrocked priests also attended the liturgy in Ovanavank. In other words, this rural church is already turning into a kind of headquarters, where forces are gathering against the current leadership of the Armenian church.  

Pashinyan also announced his intention to take away some of the churches from the Armenian Apostolic Church, at least those that are classified as historical monuments and are on the balance sheet of the state. According to him, thieves and perjurers work there, and he, as a devout Christian, cannot look at it calmly. Moreover, he stated in parliament, the Armenian Apostolic Church prevents Armenians from leading a spiritual life by "riddling" the epicenter of values.

It has long been discussed in Armenia whether Nikol Pashinyan is a believer. These discussions began after it became known that the current prime minister did not get married in a church. The question is "why?" he did not give rest to the strict followers of the postulates of Etchmiadzin. Most of them suspected him of being an atheist or even, oh horror, a convert. These suspicions were further reinforced when the head of government switched from hairpins and hints towards the church to an open offensive.

Whether Nikol Pashinyan is a believer or an unbeliever is his own business, which cannot be the subject of discussion and condemnation. The main thing is that he wants to rid the mental space of the Armenian nation of the main source of toxicity. It doesn't matter what his motives are. Of course, they are political, but this does not detract from the importance of the process that has begun, which, if successful, can remove the AAC from the category of untouchable topics.

The Constitution of Armenia is a major obstacle to resolving the issue without public verbal shootings and demonstrative liturgies. The Basic Law of the Republic prohibits the State from initiating a change of Catholicos. Pashinyan's hands are tied here. And he has to go through the creation of an alternative church center. By the way, this is another strong argument in favor of amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

The Prime Minister of Armenia has extensive and successful experience in the opposition, besides, the majority of society treats his showdown with Etchmiadzin without tension and indignation. Which suggests that the foundations, despite all their strength, have already cracked.

The reason for this is not only Pashinyan's activity on social media. The opposition made a big mistake by exposing a priest as the leader of the popular protest. Times are different now, and the appearance of a priest at the head of protest actions has significantly reduced the number of people who want to shout in the squares. It was expected that Bagrat Galstanyan and other guys in cassocks would be able to lead the people, but it turned out just the opposite. Political slogans in the mouths of churchmen in the modern era are perceived without enthusiasm. Kocharyan, who was behind the scenes of the riots last year, being at the same time their organizer, was afraid to show himself to the masses, fearing failure. In the years after the war, he was able to convince himself of his unpopularity and reserved access to the public for later, when it became clear that she was pleased with the performance.

In the old days, Armenian leaders went to Etchmiadzin as the headquarters of the commander-in-chief. After losing power, they continued to stay close to the Catholicos, counting on his support against Pashinyan. The same Robert Kocharyan has repeatedly met with Garegin II in recent years. In September 2022, he traveled to Etchmiadzin to meet with the Catholicos, along with Levon Ter-Petrosyan. The problem in the person of Pashinyan was deepening and the "former" hoped to solve it with the assistance of the church. In November 2023, Kocharyan visited the headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church again, and in the spring of 2024, riots began under the leadership of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. At the height of the events, in May and October last year, Kocharyan met with Galstanyan. And although the Karabakh criminal denied in every possible way in an interview with journalists his connection with the riots and the financing of Srbazan, hardly anyone believed him.

All this may seem like a coincidence, but there are no coincidences in politics. Kocharyan's unsuccessful campaigning campaign in the September 2021 snap elections convinced him that he needed to take a different path. If the people did not overthrow Pashinyan after the great defeat in the war, but, on the contrary, gave him votes, only the church can help to cope with the "traitor".

But even here the revanchists miscalculated. The intervention of the churchmen ruined everything. Moreover, it gave the authorities a reason to take this fraternity seriously. The connection of the "leader of the nobility" Robert Kocharyan with Etchmiadzin, the shadow management of the so-called protests indicated that the church had taken the cause of Pashinyan's overthrow under its care.

Armenia is a secular country in which the church is separated from the state, but it is not controlled by the state. Thanks to the provisions carefully introduced into the Constitution, the church in Armenia is like a second power. Moreover, Etchmiadzin can interfere in the affairs of the state, while the doors of this "mother see" institution are closed to any attempts by secular authorities to interfere.   

Nikol Pashinyan is trying to break this historically established tradition, which today greatly hinders Armenia and creates threats. He wants to change Armenia. And to reach the goal, you need to clear the way.