Karekin II: The Armenian Apostolic Church will not allow anyone to  interfere in its internal affairs

ArmInfo.  During  a meeting with a group of editors from several media outlets, his Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,  firmly asserted that the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) will not  permit external interference in its internal affairs.

"We do not know the outcomes of the upcoming elections, but the  Church stands ready to defend its rights and will not allow any  entity or authority to interfere in its internal governance or  subjugate it to their will," His Holiness stated. "Our position is  strong and clear—for the good of the people and the Homeland," the  Catholicos emphasized at a press conference convened on May 2. He  recalled that for centuries, the AAC has fulfilled a vital mission:  shaping spiritual values, preserving national identity, and ensuring  the vitality of the Armenian people. He emphasized that the Church  will unwaveringly continue this historic mission under all  circumstances, trusting in the Heavenly Father and the Armenian  people.

When questioned about how he would respond if state authorities  attempted to arrest him, Karekin II revealed that more than a dozen  criminal cases have already been initiated against members of the  clergy.  He characterized these actions as part of a broader effort  to subjugate the Church and force the removal of its leadership.  "If  the authorities decide to arrest the Catholicos of All Armenians, we  will comply and seek justice through all available legal mechanisms,  but we will never abandon the mission of the Armenian Apostolic  Church," His Holiness declared.

He further emphasized that forcing a papal resignation is legally  complex, as the AAC operates strictly under its own internal canons.  "We will not succumb to any pressure or violence," he added.   Addressing government allegations that the Church is overstepping  into the political arena, Karekin II firmly rejected the claim,  clarifying that the AAC does not engage in partisan politics.   "Political engagement is the domain of political parties," the  Catholicos explained. "The Church is a pan- Armenian spiritual  institution. Alignment with, or patronage of, any specific party  would mean ceasing to be the Church of all Armenians."

While reiterating that the Church remains strictly detached from  partisan political activity, the Catholicos emphasized its  fundamental moral obligation to speak out on critical national  matters. He stated that the Church has a primary responsibility to  articulate its position on issues that directly impact society,  generate significant public outcry, or pose existential threats to  the country.  When asked about the international community's reaction  to recent government actions against the AAC, His Holiness  acknowledged a lack of state-level intervention. Despite formal  letters being dispatched to various global agencies, international  bodies have largely treated the developments as an internal domestic  matter.

However, the Catholicos highlighted strong solidarity from global  religious institutions:  "Church structures, including the World  Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches, have  responded appropriately and expressed their formal support for our  Church," the Catholicos noted.  Hr praised the stance of all the  clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and expressed his gratitude,  including Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, Archbishop  Nourhan Manoukian, head of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, and Archbishop  Sahak Mashalian, head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate "Our Church is  united," the Catholicos concluded.

At the same time, he found it difficult to pinpoint the exact reason  behind the Armenian authorities' attacks on the Church, noting that  historically, whenever a government perceives an strengthening of the  Church's role within the state, pressure invariably follows. The  Catholicos struggled to specify what precisely triggered the  authorities' pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC)—whether  it was the Church's defense of the interests of the people of Artsakh  and its advocacy for their rights on various international platforms,  its raising of awareness regarding the issues of Armenian prisoners  of war held in Baku, or its efforts to protect the destroyed Armenian  heritage in occupied Artsakh.  It should be noted that since May  2025, the Armenian authorities have launched an active anti-church  policy and are seeking the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians  Karekin II, who is elected to this position for life. As part of this  campaign, both clergy and citizens who support the Church are being  persecuted. Currently, four high-ranking clergy are imprisoned on  trumped-up charges as part of this anti- church campaign. Moreover,  the Armenian prime minister and 10 schismatic bishops signed a  framework document on the so-called renewal of the Armenian Church.

It should be noted that, according to the Constitution, Armenia is a  secular state, where church and state are separate. At the same time,  the "exceptional mission" of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) in  preserving national identity is recognized.