No Face to Show: Bishop Mikhail Ajapahyan on Pashinyan's Absence from Easter Service

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has self-isolated ahead of his meeting with Russian President Putin on April 7 and will not participate in the Great Easter Service. However, discussions are underway among broad segments of society regarding the notion that the Prime Minister is ignoring the church, thereby staging a protest against it. It is worth noting that Pashinyan also did not attend the Christmas Service.

In an interview with ArmDaily.am, Bishop Mikhail Ajapahyan stated that he does not believe it is a protest against the church. “I think he has no face to show up; that’s why he is not coming. What kind of protest is this? Whether he comes or not, the church will not deviate from its mission, nor will the festive atmosphere be disrupted. Of course, this is very unfortunate for the country and the atmosphere, but he is already that person who truly should not have a face to enter the church,” the clergyman said.

Bishop Mikhail Ajapahyan added that Pashinyan knows he is an unwelcome person, which is why he is avoiding the attendance.