Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has managed to turn existing divisions inside the church system into a political tool. These divisions have deepened and become public. This view was expressed by political analyst Hayk Martirosyan, who commented on the recent participation of several clergymen in “political liturgies” attended by Pashinyan.
According to Martirosyan, the situation is not a simple show. He believes that serious agreements stand behind these actions.
The “corrupted rites” and their purpose
Martirosyan argues that such liturgies cannot be considered canonical. They include major violations and are sometimes performed by clergy who have lost their priestly status. He describes these liturgies as “corrupted rites” designed to humiliate the Catholicos, especially in the presence of the prime minister.
The analyst says that closed discussions take place before each event. These actions help mark and display the division inside the Church.
Participation of the prime minister creates immediate PR impact. The monastery or parish hosting such an event is seen as moving toward the schismatic group and away from the Church.
Old cracks inside the Church
Martirosyan notes that even though the Armenian Apostolic Church has not had a permanent schismatic movement, a group of clergy dissatisfied with the Catholicos has existed for years. This dissatisfaction has now turned into a political tool.
“By acting against the Catholicos, they act against the entire Church,” he says. He adds that the authorities succeed in attracting even those clergy who previously appeared loyal to the Catholicos. This shows that the process is organized and coordinated.
The goal is to divide the Church
According to Martirosyan, the political line of the government is clear: to show and reinforce division inside the Church. He believes the goal is political, not moral, and aims at using the Church as an instrument.
Expectation of a new Catholicos
The analyst says that criticism of the current Catholicos is only a pretext. He believes that the next Catholicos will likely represent outside interests. Martirosyan suggests that the most probable candidate is the Patriarch of Constantinople, Sahak Mashalian.