”Holy Father, go f--k your uncle's wife. What do you want from me?”

This is what Armenia's prime minister Nikol Pashinyan posted on Facebook on 29 May – a message directed at archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a politically active cleric. He's been mobilising and leading anti-Pashinyan protests across the country which peaked at around 30,000 participants in May of last year.

Many Armenians couldn't believe their prime minister would speak that way, especially about someone from the Church. If you've ever been to Armenia, you've probably noticed how integral Christianity is to daily life there.

Crosses hang from rearview mirrors in cars and around people's necks, newly-built churches pop up all over, and bible quotes shine on billboards along the highway.

The Armenian Apostolic Church isn't just a religious institution; it's deeply tied into the country's identity and goes way back. For centuries, especially when Armenia didn't have a state of its own, the Church kept people connected.

So when there's tension between the Church and the government, it's not just about religion, but about national pride and memory politics.

But archbishop Galstanyan wasn't the only cleric attacked. In a different post, Pashinyan directly called out the head of the Church, Catholicos Karekin II, suggesting that he has a child (as per long-circulating rumours).

That would disqualify him for the role, though Pashinyan didn't offer any proof. He framed the issue as both 'a spiritual concern' and a 'national security matter'. Also on Facebook, his wife Anna Hakobyan called Catholicos Karekin II ”Armenia's chief spiritual mafioso.”

On 2 June, the Church's leadership said Pashinyan had crossed both legal and moral lines with his recent attacks, especially his harsh comments about Catholicos Karekin II. They called the prime minister's language ‘vulgar and unfit for a national leader', saying it disrespects both the Church and the faithful.

The feud between Pashinyan – who has served as prime minister since 2018 and is now leading his third government, formed in 2021 – and the church isn't new.

Tensions have been growing ever since Armenia lost the war against Azerbaijan in 2020. Since then, the Armenian clergy has largely turned against Pashinyan, slamming the government's peace concessions to Azerbaijan and accusing it of betraying national interests and undermining ”traditional Christian values.”

Clergy have called for Pashinyan to step down, while the government has pushed for more control over Church finances and leadership, accusing them of corruption, sexual misconduct, shady deals, and even mafia connections. Despite the friction, the Church still holds strong public support and is the most trusted institution in the country.

While it's hard to predict how this secular vs. religious drama will unfold, it's safe to say it will further split Armenian society between pro-Pashinyan secularists and pro-Church traditionalists, likely influencing the outcome of the next elections to be held before June 2026.