Possible Changes Related to the Church in the New Constitution, Says Alen Simonyan

“We are not entering anyone's bedroom; we are talking about a spiritual institution,” stated the President of the National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, in response to the Prime Minister's recent remarks concerning the Catholicos of All Armenians and celibate clergy.

Simonyan did not rule out the possibility of changes related to the church in the constitution. “I have not participated in such discussions, but I do not exclude that if there is a change in the constitution, that issue will also be presented differently because Armenia is a country that advocates freedom of conscience. I believe if a religious institution holds a special status, it means the state should also have a role in it, at least to make that institution transparent,” he noted.

According to Simonyan, the church has taken on the role of a political party. “If Bishop Bagrat can be a prime ministerial candidate while holding Canadian citizenship, I do not exclude that one day the Catholicos could also be a prime ministerial candidate. The Catholicos has rights and can present himself as a candidate for prime minister,” he added.

Simonyan emphasized that clergymen have forgotten that they are servants of God. “They think they are gangsters, problem solvers, godfathers, businessmen.” He also reminded that the bishop once carried weapons.