Russian Orthodox Church Condemns Armenian Authorities’ Interference in Armenian Apostolic Church

Pic: mospat.ru – Archpriest Nikolai Balashov

OCP News Service – 19/06/2025

Moscow- Russia: The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as unacceptable interference by Armenian authorities in the internal affairs of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, an advisor to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, told RIA Novosti that insults directed at the Armenian primate and hierarchs are causing “indignation” within the ROC.

“The gross insults against the Primate and hierarchs of the Armenian Church evoke feelings of shame and indignation. We feel solidarity with the Armenian believers who defend the dignity of their Church. Attempts at brazen interference by representatives of the secular authorities in the internal life of the most important national spiritual institution with a centuries-old history are unacceptable and deserve condemnation,” Archpriest Balashov stated (RIA Novosti, June 18, 2025).

The ROC’s statement comes in response to recent actions by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan had reportedly posted offensive messages about the Armenian Apostolic Church on Facebook (a social network banned in Russia as extremist), expressing dissatisfaction with the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church’s hierarchs. Members of the ruling Civil Contract party are also said to have joined a campaign against the Church.

Further escalating tensions, Prime Minister Pashinyan later proposed changing the procedure for electing the Catholicos of All Armenians, suggesting that the “decisive role of the Republic of Armenia” should be enshrined in this process. Following this, the “Five Human Rights Defenders” initiative, a group of prominent Armenian lawyers, accused Pashinyan of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order due to his proposal. On June 9, Pashinyan had publicly expressed his desire for a new Catholicos to be elected and urged his supporters to back this initiative (RIA Novosti, June 18, 2025).

Source:

OCP News Service