The World Council of Churches (WCC) has recently voiced its support for the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) amidst a prolonged period of tension with Armenia’s government. This ongoing conflict has seen accusations of governmental overreach into church matters.
Since Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan assumed office in 2018, relations between the AAC and the Armenian government have been strained. The situation further worsened following Armenia’s loss in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020.
Throughout this period, supporters of the AAC have reported that numerous bishops, estimated to be between one-third and one-half of the Church’s leadership, have faced arrest. Additionally, the AAC’s head has been restricted from international travel. Critics have likened Pashinyan’s actions to those of a Soviet-era dictator.
Prime Minister Pashinyan has countered these criticisms by asserting his intention to protect the Church from what he describes as “anti-Christian” and “anti-state” factions. Accusations have arisen against senior church figures, alleging their involvement in plots to violently unseat the government and condoning threats against government officials, including calls for the assassination of government ministers.
Among the notable arrests is that of Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, who received a two-year prison sentence in September 2025 for allegedly advocating for the government’s overthrow through non-democratic means. The prosecution cited several of the archbishop’s statements, including one to News.am where he said, “I called for a coup to save the country from this madman, they are not saving it, they are also guilty of all this. This is not just a call, it must be done.”
Recently, the head of the AAC, Karekin II, along with six senior clerics, appeared in court on August 7. They face charges for allegedly ignoring a court order to reinstate Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, who had been removed and laicized by Karekin. A conviction could result in up to two years in prison for the accused.
Bishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, WCC’s central committee moderator, and Dr. Jerry Pillay, its general secretary, expressed in a joint statement, “WCC, as a global fellowship of churches, affirms the vital role of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the spiritual, cultural, and historical life of the Armenian people and in the wider Christian family.
“As WCC, we express our concern about undue interference in inner church matters. We uphold the Armenian Church and its people in prayer and support during this time.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
