Verelq: The campaign against the Church continues


“Hraparak” newspaper writes:


“Nikol Pashinyan continues his campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church and its ministers. It just does it more quietly during the pre-election period.


We wrote that by the order of the Head of the Prison Service, the clergy serving the prisons, in particular Father Grigor Hovhannisyan, was banned from entering the prison, he visited the life convicts for more than 10 years.


The clerics attached to the CSIs have been serving for many years for free, they were chosen by the decision of the Catholicos, there is a department serving the CSIs in the Mother See. Nikol Pashinyan decided to take the matter from the hands of the church, depriving the Catholicos of another lever.


They told that a few weeks ago, the CCP contacted the active clergy, they offered to sign contracts with them, and on a paid basis, trying to interest them in joining the ranks of the Tiradavs, but they did not agree. After that, they started to sign contracts with the clergy of the dioceses of the Tiradavs who sided with Pashinyan. We will find out how much they will be paid in the near future.


It should be noted that now the spiritual inspector of the prisons, the vicar of Gegharkunyats diocese, Fr. Reverend Isahak Poghosyan was the first to reject the government’s deal. According to everything, soon they will find a replacement for him.


It should be reminded that by the order of Suren Papikyan, the activities of the Armed Forces chaplains in the Ministry of Defense system were stopped from February 1. And on March 27, Pashinyan included Arman Saroyan, the former leader of the Masyatsotn Diocese, in the Committee on Forgiveness.”


More details in today’s issue of the newspaper

Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.

Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2026/04/22/verelq-the-campaign-against-the-church-continues/

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

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