Government's New Program: Removal of the Catholicos, Church Reform, and New Elections

The new program of the Republic of Armenia's government has established a reform agenda for the Armenian Apostolic Church under the section "Spiritual Security." The program states that the goal of the reform is to bring the Church into the realm of canonical law and to exclude its politicization. The government also aims to eliminate attempts by external forces to turn the Armenian Apostolic Church into a 'hybrid warfare stronghold.'

According to the program, addressing the spiritual security issue and reforming the Armenian Apostolic Church is a vital necessity. The reform agenda for the Armenian Apostolic Church serves to ensure its canonical status and to prevent its politicization. Efforts will be made to implement the following agenda to secure spiritual safety, prevent attempts by external forces to use the Armenian Apostolic Church as a hybrid warfare base, and reform the Church:

1. The actual removal of the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church (resignation) will be ensured, and the election of a caretaker Catholicos will be conducted in accordance with established procedures.
2. The adoption of the Statute of the Armenian Apostolic Church will be ensured, which will define procedures for maintaining enshrined principles, financial transparency, and the moral integrity of clergy.
3. The election of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will be ensured in accordance with established procedures.

The government will also work towards including spiritual workers in the state system of social guarantees and ensuring financial transparency for the Church, as stated in the five-year program of the Armenian government.