Fr. Maghakia Ohanyan has publicly criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for receiving Holy Communion during the canonization ceremony of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan and six other Blesseds at the Vatican. The priest stated that such an act is incompatible with the theological doctrine of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
“There are major theological differences between the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Our Church does not share Eucharistic communion with the Catholic Church. Therefore, a member of our Church cannot receive Communion there. Doing so constitutes conversion,” he wrote on Facebook.
Fr. Maghakia stressed that only through repentance and sincere remorse can someone reconsider such a step and return to the embrace of the Mother Church.
“If someone receives the Holy Eucharist in a church, it also signifies their allegiance and membership in that church. For centuries, the Catholic Church tried to convert our nation—particularly Armenian kings and nobles—but failed. Yet it seems today they have succeeded. May God protect our Holy Church, our nation, and our homeland,” he added.
The canonization ceremony took place at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican and was led by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. Among the attendees were Pashinyan, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and other high-ranking dignitaries. During the service, an Armenian-language prayer was offered in honor of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan.
