By Ani Ghulinyan
YEREVAN (OC-Media.org) — Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the second Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, October 3, that the country, within its internationally recognized borders, is a land granted by God.
The remarks linked religion to Pashinyan’s ‘Real Armenia’ concept, which he has presented as a vision of a state defined by its current borders rather than historical claims.
Archbishop Kevork Noradounguian was the highest ranking official from the Armenian Apostolic Church to attend as strained relations between Pashinyan’s government and the Apostolic Church continue.
Catholicos Karekin II and six other senior church officials are standing trial on charges of deliberately obstructing the enforcement of a lawful court decision through abuse of power. Pashinyan has been open about his intention to topple the Catholicos; it was a part of his party’s manifesto ahead of the June elections.
Armenia held its first Prayer Breakfast in 2025. This year, the event was attended by officials, diplomats, businesspeople and clergy, and senior adviser to the White House Faith Office Paula White-Cain, who was one of the keynote speakers together with Pashinyan. On Sunday, White-Cain was received by Catholicos Karekin II, attending the Divine and Immortal Liturgy at the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin.
