Armenian Church

Last updated: May 29, 2026

The Armenian Apostolic Church — sometimes referred to in Western sources as the Armenian Orthodox Church, though the Church itself uses the Apostolic designation — was founded in 301 AD when Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, making it among the world’s oldest Christian institutions. Its spiritual center is the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin , and it is led by the Catholicos of All Armenians, currently Garegin II .

Groong has covered the Armenian Church across more than 80 episodes, from its theological and cultural role in Armenian identity to its increasingly contested political position. Coverage includes the church’s response to the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war, the emergence of tensions between the Catholicosate and the Pashinyan government, and the dramatic events of 2025 in which multiple senior archbishops were arrested.

A central theme in recent coverage is the Pashinyan government’s effort to weaken the Armenian Apostolic Church under the framing of institutional reform. Critics argue that the government has used legislative and legal mechanisms to reduce the church’s influence in Armenian public life — stripping its exemptions, challenging its land holdings, and targeting clergy through the court system — in what many observers describe as a politically motivated campaign to neutralize a powerful institution that has historically commanded broad public trust.

The arrests of multiple senior clergy in 2025 form the sharpest edge of this confrontation. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan led a mass opposition movement before his arrest in June. Archbishops Mikayel Ajapahyan and Arshak Khachatryan and Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan were also arrested later that year. These events have made the church-state relationship one of the most closely watched dimensions of Armenian domestic politics heading into the 2026 parliamentary elections.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Armenian Church.

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:34 Continuing Opposition Protests in Yerevan
  • 18:19 5 + 6: Armenia’s “Response” to Azerbaijan
  • 41:28 Lebanon Elections 2022

Guests:

  • Dr. Ohannes Geukjian
  • Arthur G. Martirosyan

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Katia Peltekian / TW/@KatiaPeltekian
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html

ANCA Advocacy Agenda 2022 - MaY 13, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

Topics:

  • The US/Turkey F-35/F-16 Fallout
  • US Aid to Armenia and Artsakh
  • The Armenian Genocide Education Bill
  • Dr. Oz is Mehmet Oz
  • The US Election Cycles of 2022 and 2024

Guest:

  • Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 136 | Recorded on Thursday, May 12, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220513.html

ANCA Advocacy Agenda 2022 - MaY 13, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

Topics:

  • The US/Turkey F-35/F-16 Fallout
  • US Aid to Armenia and Artsakh
  • The Armenian Genocide Education Bill
  • Dr. Oz is Mehmet Oz
  • The US Election Cycles of 2022 and 2024

Guest:

  • Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 136 | Recorded on Thursday, May 12, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220513.html

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 13, 2022

Topics:

  • Renewed Hostilities in Artsakh
  • Update on Ukraine
  • FM “Arabat” Mirzoyan in Antalya

Guest:

  • Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Host:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan

Episode 128 | Recorded: Sunday, March 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220313.html

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 13, 2022

Topics:

  • Renewed Hostilities in Artsakh
  • Update on Ukraine
  • FM “Arabat” Mirzoyan in Antalya

Guest:

  • Dr. Pietro Shakarian

Host:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan

Episode 128 | Recorded: Sunday, March 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220313.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 20, 2022

Topics:

  • Ukraine: Biden’s Tunnel of Crisis
  • Azeri Commission to Destroy Armenian Heritage
  • Artsakh Law on Occupied Territories
  • Azerbaijan Wants to Arrest Artsakh President
  • IRI Poll Results Revisited

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian TW/@hrant_m

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 121 | Recorded: Sunday, February 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220220.html

ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 20, 2022

Topics:

  • Ukraine: Biden’s Tunnel of Crisis
  • Azeri Commission to Destroy Armenian Heritage
  • Artsakh Law on Occupied Territories
  • Azerbaijan Wants to Arrest Artsakh President
  • IRI Poll Results Revisited

Guests:

  • Hrant Mikaelian TW/@hrant_m

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 121 | Recorded: Sunday, February 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220220.html

Armenian Songs for Children Bedros Afeyan talks with Isabel Bayrakdarian

Topics:

  • Journey Back to Armenian Music
  • Musical Harmony Between Armenian Music and Classical Canon
  • Researching, Teaching and Choosing Songs
  • Isabel’s Favorites and Influences

Guest:

Host:

Song Excerpts list & timestamps: (Note: All excerpts used with permission)

  • 00:00 Komitas - Sleep My Child - Lullaby
  • 01:35 Komitas - Six Children’s Songs
  • 27:03 Ganachian - The Swallow / Tsitsernak
  • 29:06 Komitas - Little Wooden
 Read More

Armenian Songs for Children Bedros Afeyan talks with Isabel Bayrakdarian

Topics:

  • Journey Back to Armenian Music
  • Musical Harmony Between Armenian Music and Classical Canon
  • Researching, Teaching and Choosing Songs
  • Isabel’s Favorites and Influences

Guest:

Host:

Song Excerpts list & timestamps: (Note: All excerpts used with permission)

  • 00:00 Komitas - Sleep My Child - Lullaby
  • 01:35 Komitas - Six Children’s Songs
  • 27:03 Ganachian - The Swallow / Tsitsernak
  • 29:06 Komitas - Little Wooden
 Read More

Turkish-Armenian Normalization Negotiations A Conversation with Harut Sassounian

  • Harut Sassounian has been the publisher of The California Courier newspaper since 1983. He is also the President of the Armenia Artsakh Fund, a non-profit organization which has delivered to Armenia and Artsakh $947 million of humanitarian assistance since 1989. He is currently engaged in forming the Diaspora Armenian Parliament through local elections.

Topics:

  • History of Turkish-Armenian Attempts at Negotiations
  • Who are The Players?
  • Why Now? What’s on the Agenda?
  • What are the Pitfalls and Opportunities?
 Read More

Turkish-Armenian Normalization Negotiations A Conversation with Harut Sassounian

  • Harut Sassounian has been the publisher of The California Courier newspaper since 1983. He is also the President of the Armenia Artsakh Fund, a non-profit organization which has delivered to Armenia and Artsakh $947 million of humanitarian assistance since 1989. He is currently engaged in forming the Diaspora Armenian Parliament through local elections.

Topics:

  • History of Turkish-Armenian Attempts at Negotiations
  • Who are The Players?
  • Why Now? What’s on the Agenda?
  • What are the Pitfalls and Opportunities?
 Read More

Guest(s):

Preserving Armenian Heritage

Topics:

  • What is Armenian Art and Architecture?
  • Where does Artsakh’s Heritage fit in the larger Armenian picture?
  • What Armenian Heritage fell under Azerbaijani Control in 2020?
  • What is Caucasus Heritage Watch and What does it do?
  • What can International Organizations do for Artsakh?
  • How do International Instruments fail in Preserving Armenian Heritage?

Host:

  • Simon Maghakyan is an independent researcher of cultural destruction and lecturer in International Relations at the University of Colorado Denver.

Guests

 Read More

Guest(s):

Preserving Armenian Heritage

Topics:

  • What is Armenian Art and Architecture?
  • Where does Artsakh’s Heritage fit in the larger Armenian picture?
  • What Armenian Heritage fell under Azerbaijani Control in 2020?
  • What is Caucasus Heritage Watch and What does it do?
  • What can International Organizations do for Artsakh?
  • How do International Instruments fail in Preserving Armenian Heritage?

Host:

  • Simon Maghakyan is an independent researcher of cultural destruction and lecturer in International Relations at the University of Colorado Denver.

Guests

 Read More

ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges

Guest

  • Giro Manoyan has been a member of the ARF-D Bureau since 2015. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, he moved to Montreal, Canada in 1976. He has served as the Executive Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, as well as the Editor in Chief of the Horizon Armenian Weekly. In 1999 he moved to Yerevan and has served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of the ARF-D, in charge of the Armenian Cause, Hai Tahd Central Committee.

Topics

  • The ARF in the Politics of Armenia
  • On the War in 2020
  • On the Upcoming Elections in 2021
  • On the
 Read More

ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges

Guest

  • Giro Manoyan has been a member of the ARF-D Bureau since 2015. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, he moved to Montreal, Canada in 1976. He has served as the Executive Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, as well as the Editor in Chief of the Horizon Armenian Weekly. In 1999 he moved to Yerevan and has served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of the ARF-D, in charge of the Armenian Cause, Hai Tahd Central Committee.

Topics

  • The ARF in the Politics of Armenia
  • On the War in 2020
  • On the Upcoming Elections in 2021
  • On the
 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021

Topics:

  • Nikol Pashinyan’s Roadmap & Snap Parliamentary Polls
  • The Visit to Syunik
  • Biden Recognizes the Armenian Genocide, Now What?
  • Update from Stepanakert
  • Are we Going to Mars?

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan
  • Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021

Topics:

  • Nikol Pashinyan’s Roadmap & Snap Parliamentary Polls
  • The Visit to Syunik
  • Biden Recognizes the Armenian Genocide, Now What?
  • Update from Stepanakert
  • Are we Going to Mars?

Guests:

  • Tevan Poghosyan
  • Emil Sanamyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 11, 2021

Topics:

  • Mr. Pashinyan goes to Moscow
  • Election Politics
  • The POW debacle
  • A Coronavirus Update
  • The State of the Economy

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Hrant Mikaelian

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Episode 57 | Recorded: April 12, 2021

ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 11, 2021

Topics:

  • Mr. Pashinyan goes to Moscow
  • Election Politics
  • The POW debacle
  • A Coronavirus Update
  • The State of the Economy

Guests:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Hrant Mikaelian

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Episode 57 | Recorded: April 12, 2021

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021

Topics:

  • Newly Released IRI Poll Results
  • Armen Grigoryan’s Interview
  • Snap On, Snap Off!

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021

Topics:

  • Newly Released IRI Poll Results
  • Armen Grigoryan’s Interview
  • Snap On, Snap Off!

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

  • Hovik Manucharyan
  • Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021

Guest(s):

ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021

Topics Covered:

  • President Sargsyan’s Interview
  • Legislation to Criminalize Defamation of Government Officials
  • Appointment of Acting Governors and Mayors during Martial Law
  • Opposition Protests on Feb 20
  • Govsagan, in the end

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian @asbedk
  • Marine Manucharyan @armoland
  • @Emil_Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

  • Alen Zamanyan @alenzam99
  • Asbed Bedrossian @Qubriq

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021

Guest(s):

ANN Groong Week in Review Episode 51 - Feb 21, 2021

Topics Covered:

  • President Sargsyan’s Interview
  • Legislation to Criminalize Defamation of Government Officials
  • Appointment of Acting Governors and Mayors during Martial Law
  • Opposition Protests on Feb 20
  • Govsagan, in the end

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian @asbedk
  • Marine Manucharyan @armoland
  • @Emil_Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

  • Alen Zamanyan @alenzam99
  • Asbed Bedrossian @Qubriq

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210221.html Episode 51 | Recorded: February 21, 2021

Guest(s):

The Role of The Humanities and Social Studies in Armenian Life - 12/13/2020

Conversations on Groong

Academia and academic work, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences, has always been instrumentalized by various ideologies and/or political regimes. Moreover, various disciplines within each of those fields such as anthropology, art history, literature, etc., have a long tradition of being the middle children of academia and are rarely considered to have a role in shaping minds and trends in society. In Armenia the roles of

 Read More

Guest(s):

The Role of The Humanities and Social Studies in Armenian Life - 12/13/2020

Conversations on Groong

Academia and academic work, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences, has always been instrumentalized by various ideologies and/or political regimes. Moreover, various disciplines within each of those fields such as anthropology, art history, literature, etc., have a long tradition of being the middle children of academia and are rarely considered to have a role in shaping minds and trends in society. In Armenia the roles of

 Read More

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020

Topics Covered:

  • Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
  • The Scene in Yerevan
  • COVID Update
  • Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy

Your Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Hrant Mikaelian

Recorded: Nov 29, 2020

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020

Topics Covered:

  • Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
  • The Scene in Yerevan
  • COVID Update
  • Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy

Your Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Hrant Mikaelian

Recorded: Nov 29, 2020

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

  • The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
  • Pax Russiana
  • The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
  • Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

  • The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
  • Pax Russiana
  • The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
  • Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

Conversations on Groong: Artsakh in the Arab Media - Oct 28, 2020

Since September 27, Azerbaijan has been waging an all out war on Artsakh, cluster-bombing towns and villages and killing civilians and destroying churches and cultural centers, with the aim to destroy and depopulate the region. The worldwide Armenian Diaspora has come together to fight this existential threat.

We’ve read much about the Diaspora’s activities around most of the world, but what about the Arab world? This episode explores some of the challenges and opportunities that

 Read More

Guest(s):

Conversations on Groong: Artsakh in the Arab Media - Oct 28, 2020

Since September 27, Azerbaijan has been waging an all out war on Artsakh, cluster-bombing towns and villages and killing civilians and destroying churches and cultural centers, with the aim to destroy and depopulate the region. The worldwide Armenian Diaspora has come together to fight this existential threat.

We’ve read much about the Diaspora’s activities around most of the world, but what about the Arab world? This episode explores some of the challenges and opportunities that

 Read More

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/20/2020

Topics:

  • Constitutional Court Appointment
  • Armenia’s Growing National Debt
  • Calls for the Resignation of the Minister of Education
  • Escalated Tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border
    • Armenian Soldier dies amidst escalation
    • Azerbaijan again slams negotiations, turns away Russian AWACS
  • Khodorkovsky Publishes New Dossier on Armenian & Azerbaijan
  • Bob Dole hired by Embassy of Armenia as a Lobbyist

Guests

  • Hrant Mikaelyan
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan
 Read More

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/20/2020

Topics:

  • Constitutional Court Appointment
  • Armenia’s Growing National Debt
  • Calls for the Resignation of the Minister of Education
  • Escalated Tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border
    • Armenian Soldier dies amidst escalation
    • Azerbaijan again slams negotiations, turns away Russian AWACS
  • Khodorkovsky Publishes New Dossier on Armenian & Azerbaijan
  • Bob Dole hired by Embassy of Armenia as a Lobbyist

Guests

  • Hrant Mikaelyan
  • Emil Sanamyan
  • Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan
 Read More

Guest(s):

Education Reform in Armenia - 08/10/2020 Conversations on Groong Asbed Kotchikian talks with Ara Sanjian & Siranush Dvoyan

Topics:

Background of education reform(s) in Armenia In depth analysis of the content, standards & measurable outcomes of the proposed curriculum’s history & literature segments. Challenges of implementing the proposed curriculum

In recent months, Armenia’s government has published its proposal for K-12 curriculum reform in Armenian schools. The new curriculum, which includes education standards and learning

 Read More

Guest(s):

Education Reform in Armenia - 08/10/2020 Conversations on Groong Asbed Kotchikian talks with Ara Sanjian & Siranush Dvoyan

Topics:

Background of education reform(s) in Armenia In depth analysis of the content, standards & measurable outcomes of the proposed curriculum’s history & literature segments. Challenges of implementing the proposed curriculum

In recent months, Armenia’s government has published its proposal for K-12 curriculum reform in Armenian schools. The new curriculum, which includes education standards and learning

 Read More

ANN Groong Week in Review - 08/02/2020

Topics:

  • Living With Conflict #WordsNotSwords
  • Panel Discussion on Robert Kocharyan’s Interview
  • Lightning Round
    • The SIS Charges Arthur Danielyan
    • Nominees for the Constitutional Court
    • The PM’s Outlook on the State of the Pandemic
    • Staff Changes in the Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office

Guests

Resident panelists:

Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020

ANN Groong Week in Review - 08/02/2020

Topics:

  • Living With Conflict #WordsNotSwords
  • Panel Discussion on Robert Kocharyan’s Interview
  • Lightning Round
    • The SIS Charges Arthur Danielyan
    • Nominees for the Constitutional Court
    • The PM’s Outlook on the State of the Pandemic
    • Staff Changes in the Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office

Guests

Resident panelists:

Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020