Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, amid criticism for his handling of church leaders, received accolades from Evangelical figures in the U.S. and UK for his participation in Armenia’s first national prayer breakfast. This event marked a notable moment for Pashinyan, who highlighted a year of peace since Armenia’s independence in 1991.
During the Republic of Armenia Prayer Breakfast, Pashinyan emphasized the spiritual significance of the peace agreement with Azerbaijan, which was signed following his involvement in the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. He further underscored his speech by reciting Psalm 32:1, reflecting on the connection between faith and governance.
Jim Garlow, a former senior pastor from California, praised Pashinyan’s ability to recite the biblical passage from memory, noting on Facebook that it was a rare occurrence for a head of state. Garlow remarked, “I have been with 13 Heads of State over the past few years, but this is the FIRST time I have ever heard a Head of State quote by memory an entire chapter of the Bible.”
Another attendee, Mervin Thomas from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, described Pashinyan as “an inspiration” for his scripture recitation. The gathering featured several notable speakers, including Rev. Botrus Mansour from the World Evangelical Alliance and representatives from various religious communities.
The event, organized by Armenian civil society groups, aimed to foster dialogue and reconciliation. Stepan Sargsyan, who chaired the organizing committee, described it as a spiritual initiative, involving multiple Christian denominations to present a unified moral vision.
Despite the event’s success, Pashinyan faces criticism over his government’s arrest of church leaders, a point of contention highlighted by Western media. Notably, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan was sentenced to two years for alleged coup-related activities, with further arrests including Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan on charges of coercion and electoral interference.
Christian Solidarity International has been vocal in its opposition, criticizing the government for obstructing their efforts to assess the condition of detained church leaders. Joel Veldkamp of CSI expressed concerns over the perceived political interference in these arrests.
In addition, tensions have been exacerbated by Pashinyan’s remarks about church facilities being undervalued, which followed the Armenian Apostolic Church’s advocacy for the return of ethnic Armenians displaced by recent conflicts.
Dr. John Eibner of CSI noted the absence of the Armenian Apostolic Church at the prayer breakfast as significant, while Dr. Asif Mahmood, who attended the event, echoed concerns about the arrests of clergy, viewing them as a threat to religious freedom.
Mahmood emphasized the importance of religious freedom and free speech as tools for Armenia to distinguish itself as a democracy. He stated, “My goal is not to please government. My goal is not to please clergy. My goal is to help and assist the state of Armenia.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
