Civilnet
By Siranush Adamyan
Prominent Armenian diaspora leaders warned that the government’s handling of its dispute with the Armenian Apostolic Church risks damaging ties with Armenians worldwide in ways “not even the Ottoman Empire or the Soviet Union were able to do.”
In an open letter on Thursday, seven signatories said that “even if unintentional, the Armenian government’s approach is risking severing its relationship with the diaspora – something not even the Ottoman Empire or the Soviet Union were able to do.” .
The letter was signed by Noubar Afeyan, co-founder of Moderna; Anthony Barsamian, former chairman of the Armenian Assembly of America; Lord Ara Darzi of Denham, a British-Armenian surgeon and member of the U.K. House of Lords; UCLA physician and philanthropist Eric Esrailian; businessman Vatche Manoukian; French financier Joseph Oughourlian; and Berge Setrakian, former president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union.
The appeal comes amid escalating tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, led by Catholicos Karekin II. The dispute has intensified in recent months, with legal actions targeting senior clergy and public criticism of the Church by government officials.
“Recently, persistent political discord in Armenia – including increasing conflict between leaders of the Armenian Government and the Armenian Apostolic Church – has reached a boiling point with government-led demands to oust the leader of the Church,” the letter states.
The authors say the Catholicos was elected in accordance with church regulations and that any removal should occur within ecclesiastical structures rather than under state pressure.
They also point to criminal cases against clerics and the imprisonment of the Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. “Several Archbishops have been imprisoned while accused of making political statements, and a prominent Russian-Armenian philanthropist and businessman has been imprisoned for publicly stating support for the church's position,” the statement says.
The letter highlights a planned synod of bishops scheduled for February 17–19 in Vienna, which the Church had convened to address internal challenges.
“The Church has already called for a synod of bishops … to be held in Vienna. Unfortunately, the government has reportedly served legal notices to several bishops denying them the right to leave the country to attend the meeting,” the signatories wrote.
Also read: Armenian authorities impose travel ban on bishops ahead of Austria meeting
In January, Armenian authorities imposed travel bans on several bishops ahead of their mid-February meeting in Vienna, preventing them from attending the planned synod. The gathering was expected to be followed by a session of the National Ecclesiastical Assembly, described in the letter as “the highest governing body of the Church and only this body elects the Catholicos.”
“The self-governance of the Church for continual improvement and reform is of critical importance,” the signatories said, calling for all disputes to be handled within church governance structures.
Diaspora dimension
The authors frame the dispute as one with global implications. Citing Armenia’s adoption of Christianity in 301 AD and the Church’s role after the 1915 Genocide and during Soviet rule, they argue that the institution has long been central to Armenian identity.
“It is the Church that helped the population survive and revive in the period after the Genocide; the Church that helped resurrect the Armenian soul; and the same Church that is needed for a globally dispersed ancient nation to thrive,” the letter says.
With about 3 million Armenians living in Armenia and an estimated 7 million in the diaspora, the signatories say actions affecting the Church resonate far beyond the country’s borders.
“The Armenian church provides spiritual nourishment to all Armenians, including the vast majority of Armenians who are living outside of Armenia. As such, any attack or interference … with the Church's governance or activities has a direct effect on Armenians throughout the world,” they wrote.
“Armenia stands at a critical crossroads in its history,” the letter concludes. “This is no time for internal divisions between Church and State in Armenia to weaken the global Armenian nation further. It is, indeed, the time to de-escalate this internal crisis so that the Armenian State, the Armenian Church and the Armenian diaspora can move forward into a new era of peace and prosperity”.
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