Signatures are being collected in Armenia to remove the Catholicos
The Armenian government has initiated a signature collection campaign in the country's provinces to demand the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, the newspaper Iravunk reported. According to the newspaper, the initiator was ruling party MP Karen Sarukhanyan, who received the support of fellow party members and the approval of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
According to Iravunk, after receiving approval, individuals whom the newspaper calls "wandering believers" and associates with supporting Pashinyan's liturgies are actively collecting signatures at bus stops in cities and villages.
Earlier, Nikol Pashinyan expressed his dissatisfaction with the country's church's transformation into a political party. He noted the lack of spiritual sermons in regular churches, claiming that priests instead read political texts, which he considers unacceptable.
In late November, bishops in Armenia issued a statement addressed to Catholicos Karekin II, demanding his dismissal. Pashinyan claimed that the current Catholicos was planning a military coup in the country. In early July, the head of state publicly appealed to the clergy, demanding that Karekin II be removed from office. The prime minister accused him and the Armenian clergy of working for Russia.
