Ktrich Nersisyan has formed a group of fake account users in 2024: Zarkerak

Zarkerak.am reports that Garegin II (Ktrich Nersisyan) has formed a group of fake account users as early as 2024. In recent months, a new phase of internal crisis within the Armenian Apostolic Church has been observed at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This situation is not only marked by the failure of spiritual leadership but also by an overt attempt to actively involve itself in political processes on one side, and the initiative of Prime Minister Pashinyan to cleanse the Church of corrupt clergy on the other.

A priest, who has publicly raised concerns, without mentioning names, has articulated significant issues that have long been rooted within the Church. His statements have transcended personal grievances and transformed into a call for the revelation of systemic unhealthy conditions, demanding a review of guidelines that violate dignity, promote impunity, and imply actions based on false piety and political sympathies.

He has called for the restoration of the rights of the clergy, the fight against discrimination—especially towards married priests—and the cessation of blatant abuses concealed under the cloak of the Church's internal discipline and obedience. However, the repercussions for speaking this truth were not long in coming. In response from the highest ecclesiastical authority, there were no heartfelt prayers or displays of willingness to resolve issues in a brotherly warm atmosphere; instead, attempts were made to silence him through pressure, threats, and internal isolation.

During the examination of the issues raised by Father Aram, another despicable phenomenon was uncovered, which a serious investigation could reveal as potentially the most disgusting episode of anti-state activity in the Third Republic.

Here’s what was uncovered as the courageous priest stood up against what he described as “oceanic injustices” attempting to communicate in the language of love, understanding, and law.

Telegram Secret Chat or the Goebbels Group
As early as 2024, a secret Telegram group was created by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, comprising priests from all dioceses of Armenia. The selection of priests was done personally by Ktrich Nersisyan. Included in the group are priests who have demonstrated their reliability through anti-government activities, such as the priests of the Syunik Diocese, Father Aharon Melkumyan, Father Parghev Zeynalyan, and Father Smbat Sargsyan from Kotayk Diocese, among others.

According to reliable sources, the group’s first meeting was held at the Mother See’s Cathedral. Notably, the priests were not informed that they would be meeting with the Catholicos; they were misled into believing the meeting was to be in the information system office to discuss how to utilize social networks for effective propaganda.

The priests' phones were collected beforehand, and during this closed meeting, exclusively anti-government and often anti-state messages were conveyed. The main address, according to the same sources, was delivered by Garegin II himself, emphasizing, “The Armenian Church must spread fake news about N. Pashinyan, his family members, representatives of the government, their family members, and everyone regarding whom instructions are given by Ktrich Nersisyan.” This message practically exceeds the canonical-legal operational scope of the Mother See’s activities and is undoubtedly a political directive directed against the existing government.

Commercial ‘Diligence’ or Paid ‘Self-Sacrifice’
The next meeting of the Telegram group occurred in the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese, chaired by Bishop Mushegh Babayan and Father Hambardzum Danielyan. Similar instructions were heard to those from the initial gathering, specifically about intensifying political opposition, systematic assaults, and inciting behavior on social networks.

During that meeting, according to some sources, some priests expressed disappointment about their expectation of receiving financial support for their ‘service’ as just compensation. Father Nshan Panfyorov from Shirak Diocese complained that he incurs material losses due to such gatherings, first paying out of pocket for travel expenses and second being deprived of income from the rituals.

The third gathering of the group convened in the Masis Diocese with the participation of Bishop Gevorg Saroyan. New anti-government directives and methodological instructions were issued for organizing ‘fake assaults’ on social networks, influencing public sentiment, manipulating the faithful, and generally diverting public opinion.

‘Under Sacred Cover’
Throughout this entire process, the same names keep emerging—Bishop Mushegh Babayan, Father Hambardzum Danielyan. They are actively involved in coordinating online attacks driven by political inspiration, utilizing fake accounts, anonymous pages, and various manipulative methods. Throughout his tenure, Bishop Mushegh Babayan has not demonstrated any useful traits, either as head of administrative and economic affairs or as the illuminator of the Mother Cathedral. Flattery, gossip, whims toward employees, reprimands to associates, salary withholdings—these are the descriptors that best characterize Father Babayan.

Father Hambardzum Danielyan is an unparalleled master at producing and disseminating the most abominable trash hidden behind fake profiles and other bogus accounts. Naturally, this modern-day Goebbels group also has other coordinating leaders who cannot assure even the moral conduct of their families; surely anyone reviewing the list of priests included in the group will understand whom this refers to.

It is no longer news to anyone that officials at the Mother See, who most incompetently manage matters and evade addressing the criticisms and accusations voiced, have long been engaged in the tactics of fake assaults. Even they seem to enjoy speaking of their miserable condition.

Members of the Fake Account Users Group by Diocese
The Telegram group, according to available information, includes selected priests from all dioceses of Armenia in pairs:
- Ararat Diocese - Senior Priest Petros Malyan (father of Narek Malyan), Priest Bardukhimeos Hakobyan
- Aragatsotn Diocese - Priest Mushegh Vahanyan, Priest Pgharen Arakelyan
- Masis Diocese - Priest Ghazar Torosyan, Priest Paul Mikayelyan
- Gugark Diocese - Priest Vahan Azaryan, Priest Mikayel Shaghoyan
- Armavir Diocese - Priest Nerses Rushanyan, Priest Aharon Grigoryan
- Gegharkunik Diocese - Priest Stepanos Ignatyev, Priest Simeon Hovhannisyan
- Tavush Diocese - Priest Aram Mirzoyan, Priest Abel Kartashyan
- Vayots Dzor Diocese - Priest Nerses Ashughbabyan, Priest Aram Karapetyan
- Shirak Diocese - Priest Nshan Panfyorov, Priest Narek Antoniann
- Kotayk Diocese - Priest Sahak Sahakyan, Priest Smbat Sargsyan
- Syunik Diocese - Priest Aharon Melkumyan, Priest Parghev Zeynalyan
- Artik Diocese - Priest Vigen Ghazaryan, Priest Levon Hovhannisyan
In addition to diocesan affiliations, included in the list are also Father Arnak Harutyunyan from Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Yerevan and coordinators from the Mother See: Father Yesayi Artenyan, Father Hambardzum Danielyan.

In the declared fake war against the state and the people, Vahram Senior Priest Melikyan, Ararat Priest Poghosyan, Gabriel Priest Vardanyan, various large and medium religious communities, and supporting priests with their wives and family members are also not excluded and actively conduct underground command work.

Conclusion
Against this backdrop, the silence of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin legitimizes the concern that the organization, under its highest spiritual leadership, is overtly entangled in anti-state processes with political packaging. This seriously undermines not only the Church's reputation but also the spiritual serenity of the believing people and their sacred sentiments. The priest who spoke rejected the theater of silence for the voice of truth, choosing the responsible path of straightforwardness deserves only sympathy. In contrast, those who respond to the priest with pressuring, bribery, and ‘Goebbelsian groups of silence’ likely fear the TRUTH itself. The Church, which is called to be a center of reconciliation, unity, and love, has no right to turn into a political propaganda machine. If ecclesiastical authorities hold different views about prayer and the house of salvation, it is indeed time for all of us to be concerned...