The Priest, Like Every Citizen of Armenia, Has the Right to Express His Civic Stance: Father Vahram Melikyan

Today, Father Pargev Zeynalyan, the spiritual leader of the Holy Grigor Church in Sisian, refused to shake hands with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and expelled him from the church. Many viewed the priest’s action as a genuine display of honor and concern for the fate of the homeland, while others criticized him, stating that the priest had no right to exhibit such behavior.

ArmDaily.am inquired with Father Vahram Melikyan, the director of the Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, about whether there was an inappropriate display of behavior in the priest's actions.

“A priest, like every citizen of Armenia, has the right to express his civic stance and stand for the wounded dignity of his nation. We regret that, in the post-war period, the messages and calls from the Church have gone unanswered, leading to such a painful situation, deepening intolerance within society and creating new divisions,” Father Vahram noted.