Service of chaplains in the Armed Forces will continue under new regulation: what did Papikyan say?
RA Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan clarified that chaplains in the army can continue their spiritual service if they submit to the Department of Moral and Psychological Support of the Armed Forces. He made this statement during a briefing with journalists at the National Assembly, responding to concerns that spiritual service had been liquidated by his decision. The Minister characterized such claims as speculation and emphasized that only the nature of the service has changed.
Papikyan stated that there cannot be dual subordination in the army, referring to the fact that previously chaplains were subordinate to the Mother See. According to the Minister, the new regulations are lawful, and if the Mother See is opposed, it may appeal to the court.
Papikyan denied rumors that chaplains were offered 700,000 AMD to join the “church reformation” agenda.
“I cannot state the salary amount, but I can say that the Minister’s order reveals that we can sign contracts with clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia who have a spiritual education, so they may serve and fulfill their mission. I cannot mention the salary, but it will be a sufficient salary, differing from what it was previously,” he said.
As a reminder, on January 30, Papikyan’s decision was sent to the Mother See, according to which army chaplains must be subordinate to the commander’s deputy for educational work. Since February 1, 2026, the activities of the leader of the spiritual service and the clergy appointed by the Mother See within the system of the RA Ministry of Defense have been terminated.
Following this decision, of the 42 chaplains, 3 have moved to mandatory term military service, 4 have joined the “reformation” movement of the church, and the remaining 35 have returned to the Mother See and are awaiting new appointments.
