Liturgy with Pashinyan Amid Priests’ Arrests: Media on Aram Asatryan’s Role in New Anti-Church Case
16.10.2025. Armeniatoday.am reports:
Although the pastor of Hovhannavank Monastery, Father Aram Asatryan, did not give direct testimony against the detained head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, he allegedly provided “raw information” to law enforcement about Proshyan’s activities and those of other priests in the diocese, “Zhoghovurd” newspaper reports, citing law enforcement sources. According to the publication, Bishop Proshyan is a nephew of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II.
“Having removed the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will visit Oshakan next week to attend Father Aram’s liturgy,” the newspaper notes.
The clergyman confirmed that Father Aram had invited the Prime Minister so that local residents could have the opportunity to ask him questions concerning village life, the source adds.
The second wave of arrests among the clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese came after Father Aram Asatryan’s public statement alleging that priests had been forced to take part in opposition rallies in 2021.
Prime Minister Pashinyan declared that he supports clergymen who raise issues concerning the Armenian Apostolic Church. In response, the Aragatsotn Diocese formally admonished Father Asatryan on September 17.
On the morning of October 15, reports emerged that the pastor of Saghmosavank Monastery, Father Paren Arakelyan, had been detained, and that a search had been carried out at the residence of Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan of the Aragatsotn Diocese. Later that day, Bishop Proshyan was also detained.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin condemned the arrests of the Aragatsotn Diocese clergymen, describing them as an attempt by the government to discredit the Church. The Mother See also reported the detention of twelve additional clergymen. The Investigative Committee confirmed that the measures were taken within the framework of a criminal case concerning the alleged forced participation of priests in opposition rallies. The case was launched on the basis of statements submitted by Father Asatryan and Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the Union of Informed Citizens NGO.
Since May, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been harshly criticizing the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church, repeatedly calling for the replacement of the Catholicos. In June and July, Pashinyan accused Etchmiadzin of being “occupied by an anti-Christian and anti-state group.” Later that month, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and Bishop Mikayel Ajapahyan were arrested, with two months of pre-trial detention initially imposed as a preventive measure. The detention terms were later extended. In connection with the case on the alleged attempt to seize power, investigators also sought the arrest of fifteen supporters of the Holy Struggle opposition movement.
