Catholicos Garegin II has maintained his critical stance toward Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, despite inviting him to a significant religious event, a church spokesman indicated over the weekend.
On September 29, Pashinyan and members of his team attended a Mass at the newly renovated Mother Cathedral of Echmiadzin for its reconsecration. The invitation surprised many, leading to speculation that Garegin was distancing himself from Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian’s anti-government protests. However, Archbishop Arshak Khachatrian, the church’s chancellor, denied any change in policy, stating that the church will continue to voice concerns when necessary.
Fr. Yesayi Artenian, the church’s spokesman, reiterated this stance when asked if the church’s position had shifted after the event.
During the September 30 liturgy, Garegin warned against attempts to “battle against Holy Echmiadzin” and seemed to reject Pashinyan’s interpretations of Armenian history. Pashinyan and top officials left the ceremony midway, though it’s unclear if this was in response to Garegin’s remarks.
Parliament Speaker Alen Simonian commented that the Catholicos should not be equated with the ancient church, noting Archbishop Galstanian’s absence from the event. Galstanian, who has labeled Pashinyan as the “Antichrist,” resumed his protests on October 2, continuing to call for the prime minister’s resignation.
In May, the church’s Supreme Spiritual Council backed Galstanian’s movement, and police later attempted to block Garegin from attending a memorial event before a Pashinyan-led ceremony, resulting in a confrontation.
