In a speech in Armenia’s National Assembly, opposition MP Gegham Manukyan of the "Armenia" faction addressed the controversy surrounding defrocked priest Aram Asatryan, now a layperson named Stepan Asatryan, highlighting his alleged admiration for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his authoritarian rule.
“There is this defrocked priest who turns out to be a fanatical admirer of Kadyrov—go ahead, defend him. You, led by Pashinyan, can go wherever you want, do whatever you want, but that’s not a religious ceremony. Please, don’t mislead our fellow citizens into participating in a so-called liturgy that is in fact a grave spiritual mistake,” Manukyan stated, as reported by Pastinfo.
He reminded colleagues that during last year’s Holy Chrism Blessing ceremony—one of the most important rites held every seven years at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—many MPs present in the chamber had attended as devout followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholicos.
“But now the boss says ‘he’s a hero,’ and suddenly everyone parrots the boss. A year ago, no respectable Christian would have allowed themselves to act this way. Pashinyan says something today, and everyone must repeat it.”
Manukyan also accused the ruling party of inconsistency on Nagorno-Karabakh: “In 2019 you said ‘Artsakh is Armenia, period.’ During the war, you said we’d win—posing in uniform in Artsakh. Then in 2021 you claimed negotiations failed, and in 2022 Pashinyan said we’re abandoning Artsakh to save statehood. And all of you repeat it.”
On October 21, by decree of the Catholicos of All Armenians, Father Aram Asatryan was defrocked and returned to lay status under the name Stepan Asatryan. Despite this, he announced plans to lead a liturgy at Hovhannavank on Sunday, which Prime Minister Pashinyan has said he will attend.
