In recent weeks, several clergy members have appeared publicly, openly disagreeing with the Catholicos and violating the canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Their actions resemble political demonstrations rather than the conduct expected from spiritual leaders.
What is happening, and what consequences could this have for the church and the Armenian people? Historian and professor Ruben Melkonyan shares his assessment.
Simple betrayal
According to Melkonyan, the current developments have several layers, but at the core there is one issue — simple betrayal.
“They betray their vows, their beliefs, and the promises they made to the Catholicos and to their service,” he says.
He adds that these clergy also betray their own image.
If a bishop becomes opportunistic, how is he different from a politician? Why should people respect him or seek his blessing if he behaves like a political adventurer who changes with every government?
Lack of solidarity
Melkonyan highlights another problem: the absence of fraternity within the clergy.
If some priests feel closer to a temporary political leader than to their fellow clergy, it raises serious questions about their spiritual calling.
Worship of money and unjustified ambitions
Clergy who preach against sin often fall into the same temptations.
Melkonyan points to the worship of wealth, which some spiritual figures have embraced. Pursuing material gain, they betray the Catholicos, their fellow clergy, and the principles of the church.
Another driving factor is ambition.
Some clergy hope that this turmoil will help them get closer to the throne of the Catholicos.
A political show instead of liturgy
Melkonyan considers the most serious violation to be the transformation of the liturgy into a political show.
He explains that the liturgy is a spiritual act meant to connect the believer with God through the mediation of the priest. “It is not a political performance,” he stresses.
He recalls moments when Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was welcomed with applause in church, and clergy behaved as if they were staging a political event.
They avoided mentioning the name of the Catholicos, thinking: “Since the prime minister is here, let’s change the service.”
Choosing the prime minister over the Catholicos
According to Melkonyan, clergy stand silently and accept the omission of the Catholicos’s name from the liturgy, taking no action.
This suggests that some of them place the prime minister above the spiritual leader.
“They choose between a temporary prime minister and an anointed Catholicos — and they choose the prime minister,” Melkonyan concludes.