The sequence of actions taken by the current administration against the Church will ultimately result in a systemic crisis for the Armenian authorities, according to theologian Vardan Khachatryan.
Khachatryan explained that, generally speaking, the most severe blow that authorities can usually inflict on churches is division.
“Let’s be clear,” he emphasized, “history has shown that various divisions have led to the destruction of many churches, and in some cases even to their complete disappearance. However, the current situation cannot be critical for the Armenian Apostolic Church. Simply put, there is no group of clergy with enough weight to claim the status of an independent church,” he said, stressing that until the upcoming elections, such a threat does not exist.
According to Khachatryan, the authorities’ actions in no way serve national or spiritual interests; rather than strengthening society, they deepen internal divisions.
“The sequence of these actions will ultimately lead not to a crisis for the Church, but to a systemic crisis within the authorities themselves. The Church is not facing such a threat because it is an entirely different institution, grounded in centuries-old identity and spiritual foundations,” he noted.
Khachatryan also reminded that the Church and the state are fundamentally different systems by nature.
“One is a global institution with a history of 1,700 years, while the other is a temporary authority that comes and goes. States may vanish, but the Church remains — as one of the main carriers of our identity, our highest values, and our service to the world,” he concluded.