"This would be a strategic mistake" - Ara Abrahamyan

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s call to seize the residence of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II devalues the Armenian Apostolic Church and would be a strategic mistake. Ara Abrahamyan, the chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia, stated this in an interview with TASS.

“This would be his (Pashinyan’s) strategic mistake. He says he is a believer, but if he is a true believer, he will never allow himself and others to devalue the church. The priests of this church were ordained by the Catholicos, they baptized millions of Armenians living in different parts of the world, and they are said to be outlaws,” Abrahamyan said, commenting on Pashinyan’s recent call to his supporters to be ready for a large “spiritual gathering” in Etchmiadzin Square near the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

According to Abrahamyan, a believer and a person who loves his people would never allow himself to resolve this issue in such a way.

“Pashinyan is manipulating society with such actions, trying to pit people of different religious views against each other. But they cannot be pitted against each other, that would be a disaster. The Church is an independent institution,” Abrahamyan emphasized, noting that by pointing out only the problems of the Armenian Church, which can be anywhere, Pashinyan is silent about how positive and epoch-making the contribution of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II is for the Church.

“No one has done so much in recent centuries. It is not about individuals, but about the Church, about faith. I am a supporter of the Church, about faith. I am a believer, I have built dozens of churches around the world, including the Russian Orthodox Church in Yerevan,” Abrahamyan added.