The reform of the Armenian Apostolic Church is a necessity. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this on Facebook live Tuesday, as he presented the ruling Civil Contract (CC) party’s election platform for the parliamentary elections on June 7.

According to him, over the past decades, due to the actions of the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church, part of the flock has been alienated from the church, which has given external forces the opportunity to try to turn the Armenian Apostolic Church into an instrument of hybrid warfare.

In this regard, Pashinyan added, the CC’s election platform includes a roadmap for the reform of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Its first point is the resignation of the serving Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II. This is followed by the election of a locum tenens, the adoption of a charter of the Armenian Apostolic Church, financial transparency, and proper conduct of its clergy, the election of a new Catholicos, and general reforms to remove the Armenian Apostolic Church from politics.

“The church is separate from the state, but it cannot be outside the state,” Pashinyan added.

After delving into the biblical meaning of the church, the PM concluded that the actions of the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church have worsened the spiritual life of Armenia. According to him, the fact that the clergy cannot take advantage of the social guarantees provided by the Armenian government also speaks of attempts to marginalize the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Declaring that the people are the final judges, Pashinyan assured that the Armenian people must answer whether it is acceptable that “Ktrich Nersisyan [i.e. the birth name of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II] has long turned the church into a political party, and the church, forgetting about spiritual sermons, is busy with political sermons, with people who cross all borders.”

“Our Holy Etchmiadzin has been defiled by your infection,” the Armenian premier said, adding that he cannot imagine how a society based on spiritual values can exist in these conditions. Pashinyan believes that this issue should also be resolved in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Speaking about the Armenian Diaspora in the context of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Pashinyan noted that there is a concern that not Armenia’s interests are represented abroad, but foreign interests within Armenia, which contradict sovereignty, independence, and security.

Returning to the issue of the clergy’s “integration” into society, Pashinyan stated that Armenia has a universal income declaration system, and it cannot bypass the clergy.

 “The Armenian Apostolic Church carries out certain activities and must pay taxes. We are ready to return 100 percent of all taxes collected to the Armenian Apostolic Church, and even more in the form of social guarantees. Why don’t they, led by Ktrich Nersisyan, agree? Because they want to operate in the shadows, not to be accountable to either the church or the state,” the Armenian premier stated.