Nikol Pashinyan Makes New Statement

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, wrote:

“The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church confirms in its Statute registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia that its Canon Book has legal force for church officials and believers.

2. In Canon XIX of the second canonical rules, it is stated (quote): “If a bishop, elder, or deacon is caught in fornication or perjury or theft, they shall be deposed” (end of quote).

3. Since the Canon Book is also a law for me, as a believer, being obliged to be guided by it, I emphasize that Arshak ‘Archbishop’ Khachatryan has committed fornication and according to the aforementioned rule of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, he should be deposed (by the way, there are many rules with similar content; I am quoting one so as not to overload).

4. By this act, the same individual has also committed perjury because upon taking the vow of celibacy, he declared and signed a similar certificate of celibate priesthood, where it is stated (quote): “I, Arshak the priest Khachatryan, with the blessing of God and the will of my nation, am firmly convinced to accept the Order of Celibate Priesthood. Before the holy altar of the Savior I promise and vow to (…) keep my vow of celibate priesthood with sanctity. (…) To live with a virtuous life and decent conduct” (end of quote). This means that this person has also violated the vow he pronounced and signed before the holy altar of the Savior and therefore should be deposed on the basis of perjury.

Now, in pursuing these issues, am I fighting against the Church, or am I fighting for the values of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church? Am I standing against the Church, or against those who defile its sanctities? Of course, I have come out against those who defile the sanctities of our church and I am fighting for the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and its faithful flock, of which I am a loyal member.”