News - Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan: The Armenian Church is not involved in these processes

These people who do not have a life story shamelessly take the matter to Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in the most impudent and cynical way. The leader of the opposition Tavush for the Homeland movement of Armenia, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, told this to a press conference Wednesday—and answering the question whether the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin supports this movement. "The Mother See supported justice, condemned this violence, but the [Armenian] Church, as an institution, has no involvement in the movement. On May 26, I announced that after that meeting with the bishops, my brothers, I made a personal decision. It was considered that the [Armenian] Church cannot be actively involved in politics, I accepted that, but, also, I made a personal decision and asked the Armenian patriarch to suspend my [spiritual] services. That ‘freezing’ part also became a subject of ridicule. My [spiritual] services have been suspended, I have made a very difficult decision, and the Mother See itself will decide how to do, how not to do, but it is not involved in the processes," said Galstanyan. The archbishop added that he will become the Prime Minister of Armenia under one condition. "When the people want and the Catholicos blesses [it]. ‘After now,’ His Holiness the Patriarch said, ‘it is your personal decision, you will decide,’ and I have accepted that," said Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan.