Armenia Hosts Landmark Prayer Breakfast Amid Tensions with Church
In a significant event for the world’s oldest Christian nation, over 300 leaders from faith, business, and political spheres gathered in Yerevan for a national prayer breakfast. This assembly occurs at a time of heightened tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church, with Pashinyan slated to speak.
The first-ever Republic of Armenia Prayer Breakfast, set for Friday and Saturday, is a civil society-led initiative, organized with “the support and participation” of Prime Minister Pashinyan. The event aims to reinforce Armenia’s “spiritual foundations and traditional Christian values,” amid the political climate leading up to the June 2026 elections.
Despite its noble intentions, the event has faced criticism. Organizers have contested claims from media personalities such as Tucker Carlson, who highlighted alleged discord between Pashinyan and church leaders. Dede Laugesen, president and CEO of Save the Persecuted Christians, described the breakfast as “historic” and emphasized its grassroots origins.
“We are the organizers, Save the Persecuted Christians, Save Armenia, Mercury One and the Nazarene Fund, Glenn Beck’s Charities, and the Shai Fund,” Laugesen stated, affirming the event’s independent nature.
Pashinyan, although delivering a keynote address, shares the stage with church members, including a bishop from the Armenian Apostolic Church, according to Laugesen.
Accusations regarding Pashinyan’s alleged attempts to diminish the church’s influence have drawn attention from Western media. In a conversation with Narek Karapetyan, nephew of the imprisoned Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, Carlson suggested that Pashinyan is working to undermine traditional Christianity in Armenia.
Narek Karapetyan accused the Prime Minister of targeting the church’s leadership and imprisoning notable archbishops. Carlson further alleged that Pashinyan supports controversial social issues, likening his policies to those of certain U.S. political leaders.
The rift between the church and Pashinyan’s administration has intensified since Armenia agreed to cede border villages to Azerbaijan in 2024, a move opposed by church leaders who have organized significant protests.
Recently, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan and several clergy members were detained, accused of coercing public participation in protests and other charges. In September, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan received a prison sentence for purportedly inciting a government overthrow.
Amid these arrests, the government claims to have uncovered evidence of planned militant actions by opposition figures, a charge dismissed by defense lawyers as politically motivated.
Critics of Pashinyan argue that he has not adequately supported displaced Nagorno-Karabakh refugees post-2023 Azerbaijan invasion. Meanwhile, Robert Amsterdam, lawyer for Samvel Karapetyan, condemned the prayer breakfast as a reputational “laundering” effort.
With the upcoming election, Laugesen attributes some controversy to political maneuvering, noting the involvement of multiple opposition parties. Matias Perttula, another organizer, calls for unity and continued prayer for reconciliation between the government and the church, stressing the importance of solidarity during these challenging times.
“Pray that they come together in unity, because now is really not the time to stand divided,” Perttula urged. “It’s the time to stand together.”
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
