Paula White-Cain meets with Catholicos Karekin II in Etchmiadzin on Oct. 4

Over the weekend, two high-ranking Trump Administration officials visited Etchmiadzin and one of them met with Catholicos Karekin II, as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his party have renewed their push to oust the leader of the Armenian Church.

President Donald Trump’s adviser to the White House Faith Office Paula White-Cain met with the Catholicos on Sunday at Etchmiadzin and late attended Sunday Mass. Assistant Secretary of State Riley Barnes also visited Etchmiadzin and was greeted by the Holy See’s head of protocol Archbishop Natan Hovhanessyan.

Both were in Armenia to attend the second “prayer breakfast” organized by the Pashinyan government, which has not invited the Catholicos of All Armenians to the event promoting Armenia’s spiritual and religious legacy.

According to a statement from the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, Catholicos Karekin II and White-Cain “emphasized the role of religion and spiritual values in building a safe, prosperous, and flourishing life for peoples.”

“In this regard, they highlighted the importance of spiritual leaders working together to advance peace throughout the world and contribute to a brighter future for peoples,” the Etchmiadzin statement added.

Etchmiadzin also said that Karekin II also praised White-Cain for organizing a meeting between Trump and Armenian religious leaders in the United States at the White House on September 16.

Barnes also visited Khor Virab and Madenataran, according to the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.

“An incredible first visit to Armenia—blown away by Armenia’s rich heritage and culture. Thank you to His Eminence Archbishop Hovhannisian and to my gracious hosts at Khor Virap and Madenataran,” Barnes wrote in a social media post.

Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party announced on Monday its decision to set up a hoc commission of the Armenian parliament tasked with investigating “the church’s failure to fulfill its unique mission.” The parliament’s two opposition groups have already made clear that they will not take part in the parliamentary inquiry they say violates the church’s separation from the state guaranteed by Armenia’s constitution.

The commission is supposed to look into a report released late last month by a government agency regarded by Pashinyan’s critics as one of his main propaganda mouthpieces. The report essentially repeats Pashinyan’s allegations against the top clergy and Karekin II in particular.