Armenian PM Offers Penis to Church Head in Faith Dispute

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan engaged in a public and unusual dispute with the Armenian Apostolic Church, particularly its leader, Catholicos Karekin II. The conflict escalated after Father Zareh Ashuryan, a church spokesperson, accused Pashinyan of being circumcised, implying he was not a true Christian, and called for the church to cleanse itself of 'false believers.' In response, Pashinyan provocatively offered to prove his faith by showing his penis to Karekin II, challenging the church's accusations. Pashinyan also accused Karekin II of breaking his vow of celibacy by fathering a child, claims the church has not publicly addressed. These tensions have intensified alongside arrests of clerics allegedly involved in a coup plot against the government, which the clerics deny. The dispute highlights a deepening rift between Armenia's government and its powerful religious institution, with accusations from both sides regarding betrayal and moral failings.