Iravunk daily of Armenia writes as follows, in particular: According to a source close to the CC [i.e. the ruling Civil Contract Party and its parliamentary faction], [PM Nikol] Pashinyan returned from Sunday’s fake liturgy extremely irritated. According to the source, he [i.e. Pashinyan] realized that not only had the show failed, but the worst thing that could be imagined happened — he had made himself look ridiculous.

First, there was no serious reaction from either the [Armenian Apostolic] Church or the opposition— to get someone to make a second series of the show. The Church was content to declare the “liturgy” of the defrocked priest an illegality, and at the same time, the liturgy offered by the Catholicos demonstrated who the true believers stand with.

Second, Pashinyan saw with his own eyes that, aside from those brought by the force of order, very few people were interested either in that “liturgy, his participation [in it].” “The worst was being ignored by most of his own teammates; even many of those closest to him didn't even think about getting into that game, making it clear that he had gotten himself into it, let him get out of it now.”

Of course, he became angry, shouted at some people, threatened others, But, also, he realized that that doesn't change anything—considering that the evaluation is worse in the middle and lower chains of the team.

Everyone has friends, neighbors, and relatives, and now people are throwing it in their faces—‘What kind of sacrilege have you gotten yourselves into?’

And they find no answer. If before, they could at least justify themselves by saying [that] there is a need to replace the Catholicos, now they’re facing other questions—‘Replace the legitimate Catholicos so that he [i.e. Pashinyan] put this lawlessness in Etchmiadzin?’” the source says.

In short, having achieved nothing, Pashinyan has trapped himself in a dead end from which our interlocutor also does not see a way out: “Now, if he [i.e. Pashinyan] moves to arrest the Catholicos, he will only sharply increase his [i.e. the Catholicos’] standing. If he doesn’t take any action, how long can this situation continue?

Dragging clergymen to the doors of investigative bodies doesn’t work either—it only irritates the public even more.

Law enforcement officers are also furious, saying he [i.e. Pashinyan] keeps coming up with something new every time, drags them down with him.

Also, he might retreat, but that is the worst option.

It is said that he even tried to discuss this matter with the Pope of Rome, but was met with indifference, realizing that the Vatican also views such acts extremely negatively.

The reaction from the Russian Church was also harsh.

Where this story will lead, I can’t say now. But one thing is certain—this is not 2018 anymore,” the source said.