Doctor of Law, professor, and member of the Supreme Spiritual Council Gevorg Danielyan stated that the Armenian Apostolic Church is assessing the current situation soberly and with restraint. He described the moment as one effectively aimed at dismantling one of the foundational pillars of Armenian statehood, adding that the Church will overcome this challenge and continue its nation-preserving mission.

“Dear compatriots, no sacrificial act by the Armenian Apostolic Church—no matter how tempting or constructive it may appear, and no matter how many support it out of various motives or sincere intentions—will stop this anti-Church movement. On the contrary, it will only nourish it. So don’t fall for cheap provocations or propose supposedly balanced solutions,” Danielyan wrote.

He emphasized that the Church understands the situation clearly and, with the united efforts of its faithful, will prevail and continue its mission of national preservation.

“Let me once again stress that this is an artificial agenda that has absolutely no connection to the real and pressing challenges facing our country and people. Unfortunately, it has misled not only many of our citizens but also the Azerbaijani public. The irony is that, forgetting its own internal problems, Azerbaijani society now gleefully follows a topic they supposedly find so emotional—at our expense.”

Danielyan thanked all political forces and individuals who have shown dignity and reasonable judgment during this time, recognizing the nature of the anti-Church campaign and standing by the Armenian Church.

“May God protect the Armenian Church and our statehood,” he concluded.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently reacted to clerical criticism—following his comparison of churches to “storerooms” during a cabinet meeting—with offensive posts on Facebook. His wife Anna Hakobyan echoed his sentiments. Pashinyan also claimed that the state must play a key role in electing the Catholicos of All Armenians and questioned Catholicos Garegin II’s adherence to celibacy.

The Mother See responded that “such condemnable actions serve the ambitions of foreign anti-Armenian forces and are linked to Azerbaijani propaganda efforts targeting the Armenian people and Church.”