On December 28, I will attend a liturgy at the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Garni. My expectation is that, for the reasons and justifications previously put forward, the name of Ktrich Nersisyan (Catholicos Garegin II – ed.) will not be mentioned during the service.

Axar.az reports that this was stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“Some people say they want to protest when Ktrich Nersisyan’s name is mentioned during services they attend in various churches. Is this possible and permissible? I believe it is possible and permissible. Because this is a legitimate expectation. Those who present themselves as people of higher values and who live by certain rules have not followed those rules, do not follow them, and are not ready to face this fact. We, as followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church, should not only form a position on this issue but also express it and, finally, achieve practical outcomes stemming from it,” the prime minister said.

It should be recalled that Nikol Pashinyan has previously stated several times that Garegin II is no longer the Catholicos of all Armenians. The prime minister has called on the Catholicos, whom he accuses of violating his religious oath, to resign voluntarily. For this reason, he does not consider it appropriate for Garegin II’s name to be mentioned during liturgies in churches.