ANTELIAS, Lebanon — Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia and one of the most senior leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church, issued a rare and impassioned public statement this week condemning what he described as a “deeply shameful” situation unfolding in Armenia. In his remarks, he decried a growing atmosphere of hostility, vulgarity, and institutional decay surrounding both the Armenian Church and the country’s political life.
“This is a disgrace, a national disgrace,” Aram I said in a written address released Monday. “An unhealthy and anti-national environment has taken hold in our Homeland and in the daily life of Armenia. The words in our language are no longer sufficient to express my pain and my protest.”
The statement arrives at a moment of acute tension in Armenia, where political gridlock, public discontent, and bitter disputes within the Armenian Apostolic Church have created an environment that critics say is increasingly toxic. The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—the spiritual heart of the Armenian Church—and the country’s National Assembly have both become focal points of public frustration.
Church and State Under Strain
Aram I, based in Lebanon and a key figure within the Armenian diaspora, has not visited Armenia in nearly six years. He revealed that he had recently considered traveling to Yerevan to offer his spiritual support amid what he called “the storm,” but was ultimately deterred by the language of insult and confrontation dominating Armenia’s political and social discourse.
“I thought deeply about returning to Armenia,” he wrote. “But the low-level language still echoing in the National Assembly and on social media—words that contradict our moral, spiritual, and national values—along with the ongoing wave of politically motivated detentions, have discouraged me.”
His remarks appeared to reference recent developments in which opposition figures, civic activists, and critics of the government have been detained or targeted in what some human rights organizations and church leaders have called a campaign of political intimidation.
A Call for Dignity and Dialogue
Aram I emphasized that errors and disagreements are natural in any nation or religious institution, but warned that they must be addressed “through special processes and in a calm environment.” His comments appeared to contrast with the increasingly confrontational tone in Armenian politics, where debates have frequently devolved into personal attacks and accusations of treason.
“True leadership,” he wrote, “is tested not in times of triumph, but in moments of national distress.”
While distancing himself from direct involvement in Armenia’s current power struggles, Aram I left open the possibility of returning in the future to consult with both Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Such a meeting, he said, could be a step toward restoring unity and dignity to a nation “in spiritual and political crisis.”
Broader Concerns from the Diaspora
The statement from Antelias reflects growing unease within the Armenian diaspora, where many leaders view the current discord in Yerevan as both destabilizing and corrosive. Observers say the open rift within the Church, and the erosion of public trust in government institutions, could have long-term implications for Armenia’s democratic development and its standing among its diaspora communities.
“The Homeland is sacred to us,” Aram I wrote. “But that sacredness is being undermined by words and actions that are beneath the dignity of our people.”
His message has been welcomed by many in the Armenian Church and civil society as a much-needed voice of moral authority. But others have raised concerns about the politicization of religious institutions and the risks of external intervention in Armenia’s internal affairs.
Still, for many Armenians—at home and abroad—Aram I’s statement captures a growing sentiment: that the nation’s political and spiritual divisions have reached a breaking point, and that only humility, dialogue, and national unity can chart a path forward.
