ArmInfo.The < Civil Contract > excludes a meeting between Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Primate ofTavush diocese, leader of the "Tavush for the Motherland" movement Bagrat Srbazan (Vazgen Galstanyan). A MP from the ruling"Civil Contract" faction Rustam Bakoyan stated.
"We have not had such discussions, and we are not even going to have such empty discussions," he said. Bakoyan emphasized in this regard that such a meeting is impossible.
At the same time, the MP noted that it is necessary to figure out whether the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) actually has a charter, according to which it is possible to freeze the church administrative service while maintaining the rank. "The Catholicos assists Vazgen Galstanyan so that the latter begins political activity and, using the image, achieves his goals," Bakoyan said, noting that everything is done in a coordinated manner.
However, he called such a step unrealistic. "And it's sad that the church is setting such precedent. I think that the role of the church is very important in the spiritual life of the population. And here this key role may be shaken, which may bring with it a number of problems, even a spiritual crisis," Bakoyan said.
According to the parliamentarian, Bagrat Srbazan only asked the Catholicos to freeze the service, so that in case of failure of political activity he would be able to return to the clergy again.
Yesterday, during a large rally on Republic Square, Bagrat Srbazan said that he was ready to become a candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Armenia. He also informed that he was temporarily suspending his spiritual activities. "I asked His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, to freeze my 30-year spiritual service," the archbishop noted.
Already today, in a conversation with journalists, Galstanyan stated that he would retain his clergy, although he had frozen his religious service. In response to a remark about whether this means combining spiritual service and politics, the candidate for prime minister noted that this is not a political, but a national liberation movement. "I am no longer in the Tavush diocese, but I continue to be an archbishop. "I was not defrocked," he explained.
