Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed speculation about a possible candidate for Catholicos by stating in a Facebook post that he has no nominee—but does have a clear image of what kind of Catholicos Armenia should have.
He wrote that in the effort to free the Armenian Apostolic Church from “hypocrites and Pharisees,” some try to frame the process as being influenced by Turkey or Azerbaijan.
“This is the very essence of Phariseeism—when 'Azerbaijani' or 'Turkish' rhetoric is used to mask one’s filth from the Armenian public,” he wrote. “Such methods give foreign forces the tools to sabotage any healthy discourse or reform and trap the Armenian Apostolic Church in a deadlock.”
Pashinyan accused “Ktrich Nersisyan and others like him of desecrating the Church, labeling them a gift to those hostile to Armenia and its Church.” He criticized those defending Catholicos, accusing them of shielding lies and corruption.
He reaffirmed his intent to “return the Armenian Apostolic Church to Jesus Christ and the Armenian people,” declaring, “Ktrich Nersisyan must vacate the Catholicosate.”
He concluded: “Many want to claim I have a candidate for Catholicos. Unfortunately, I do not. But I have a vision: a person who believes in God, follows Jesus Christ, and is a devoted servant of the Church—not a fraud hiding behind the veil. And we will have a devout, God-fearing Catholicos.”
Previously, Pashinyan stated that decisive action must be taken to “liberate the Holy Etchmiadzin and organize new elections”. He said a Coordinating Group would be formed for this purpose, and he would personally appoint its first ten members.
The Mother See responded, accusing such efforts of serving anti-Armenian external forces and echoing Azerbaijani propaganda against the Armenian people and Church.
