Has an Invitation Been Extended to Nikol Pashinyan? Details from the Mother See

The Armenian authorities have not yet given a definitive answer regarding participation in the consecration ceremony of the Mother Cathedral in Echmiadzin. This was announced today at a press conference held at the "Vache and Tamar Manukyan" Library in Echmiadzin by His Eminence Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, the coordinator of the re-consecration, chrismation, and related events.

According to him, invitations have been sent to the top leadership of Armenia. “This is not the most important issue, but invitations have been sent to them. The question of inviting the authorities to the consecration ceremony has been discussed at the highest level in Echmiadzin. Only the Speaker of the National Assembly has provided a definitive response, stating that he will not attend,” he said.

The Archbishop noted that there had been some hesitation regarding whether or not to invite representatives of the government due to the current state of relations between the church and them. “This question was discussed at a high level during the meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council, which resulted in the decision to invite the authorities of the Republic of Armenia. How do we reconcile the church’s positions, including calls for the government to resign, while simultaneously sending them invitations? I believe these issues should be clearly differentiated. Inviting the authorities to national ceremonies should absolutely not be interpreted as the church having abandoned its positions or displaying complete loyalty to the political line adopted by the Armenian authorities,” Archbishop Arshak stated.

He emphasized that the church will continue to express its positions and concerns whenever necessary. Regarding whether Nikol Pashinyan has been invited, His Eminence Bishop Mushegh Babayan, the director of the administrative and economic division of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, responded that there will be additional notification on that matter.