Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan stated on Facebook that "the Armenian Apostolic Church is accountable to everyone, regardless of whether one follows all church rules."
Drawing a parallel to the government, he emphasized that the government is responsible to all citizens, regardless of whether they comply with the laws of Armenia.
“A member of the Armenian Apostolic Church recently addressed the Prime Minister, claiming that only those who strictly observe church rules have the right to criticize or make demands of the Church. I must note that, just as the government is accountable to all citizens—regardless of whether they abide by the law—anyone, even those imprisoned for serious crimes, has the right to criticize or demand adherence to the law. The content of criticism can never be diminished based on the critic’s personal character.
By the same logic, the Armenian Apostolic Church—an institution with a special status that many believe is closely tied to Armenian national identity—must be accountable to everyone, whether or not they follow church rules. If the Church were simply a public organization representing a minority, then violations of its charter might not draw such widespread attention. However, given that it positions itself as a spiritual institution for the entire nation, it must remain accountable to all, including atheists.
The decline of spiritual values in our society may, in part, be due to the visible inconsistencies between the values preached by religious leaders and their actions.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, when asked how he plans to “free” the Catholicosate, responded: “The same way we freed Armenia from Serzh Sargsyan in 2018.” Later, he called for preparations for a “Great Spiritual Gathering at the central square of Etchmiadzin.”
