Overview

Illuminating Faith has prepared a brief analysis explaining the future of Christianity in Armenia and Artsakh especially after the horrendous outcome of the 2020 Artsakh War.  We intend to educate the reader about the situation in the Caucasus and how this region is systematically being eradicated of Christians by Turkey and Azerbaijan.  Both countries are a part of The Organization of Turkic States and adhere to the policy of Turanism.  As a part of their nationalist policy, they are actively pursuing the conquest of Armenia, Artsakh and Georgia[1]

We are an organization that is dedicated to the Revival and Advancement of the Christian faith; therefore, we are gravely concerned about the future of Christianity in Armenia and Artsakh.  Armenians were the first to accept Christianity as a state belief in 301 AD and they have suffered immense hardship for their faith.  The ultimate persecution was the 1915 genocide of the Armenians by the Turks. 

This paper should behoove believers worldwide to pray for Armenia and Artsakh, to encourage Christians worldwide to take a definitive legal and political stand to defend the faith. 

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History & Timeline

The Future of Christianity in Armenia and Artsakh is under imminent threat.  The process of the attack on the faith began in the mid to late 1990s when Western NGOs (some directly and indirectly associated with Globalists or US/EU national security agencies) entered Armenia and Artsakh under the guise of humanitarian aid and positioned themselves to systematically weaken Christianity and the Church.  Thus, for 20 years of constant Leftist and Marxist propaganda, Armenia succumbed to the Globalists.  The 2018 Velvet Revolution was a colored Globalist revolution led by the My Step coalition.  Both the National Assembly of Armenia and the Republic of Armenia Government was occupied by the ruling coalition until the coalition was dismantled and the Social Contract party entered parliamentary elections independently in May 2021.   

With the humiliating defeat of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh by the Turkish-Azeri military coalition during Six-Week War (2020 Artsakh War), Christian Armenians are under the constant threat of annihilation. 

Globalists And Anti-Christian Policies

Our analysis begins with demographics as a crucial part of the equation and one of the main factors for the attack on both republics.   Armenia and Artsakh consist of over 97% ethnic Armenians and over 98% of the population are Christians (Orthodox – 92% and Protestant – 8%).  Due to these figures, Armenia and Artsakh have been targeted for over 20 years by Globalists, who have engaged in a full-fledged information war against the Republican Party of Armenia.  This regime is purported to be guilty of many crimes, however, most seem to be allegations.  For example, the 2nd President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan was arrested and alleged with the crackdown of protestors in 2008, however, he was cleared of all charges.[2]   

Organizations such as Open Society and others (US and EU based intelligence fronts) were engaged in funding NGOs in Armenian and Artsakh[3] and likely opposition political factions to achieve their endgame of the conquest of Christian Armenia/Artsakh.   Various sources claim that the existing Social Contract regime has members in their faction that were apart of NGOs funded by these organizations.[4]  As a result of improper policies and complete negligence of the previous ruling party, Armenia and Artsakh failed to end foreign operations properly and legally in both republics.  Ultimately, the outcome of the 2020 Artsakh War and the series of events leading to the imminent threat to Christians is due to these reasons.  

In order to fully understand the model of operation of the Globalist, you must understand their policies.  Globalists are against nationalism, patriarchy, fatherhood, Christianity, and the family.  Their agenda is evident, and we see the battles that countries such as Poland and Hungry are engaged in with Brussels to defend their countries against anti-family/Christian policies.   Furthermore, each Globalist revolution from Georgia to Ukraine ended in war, death, Leftist policies aimed to destroy the nation-state and the loss of territory.  

Artsakh War Of 2020

The 2020 Artsakh War was a well-orchestrated plan by Globalist forces (Russian/Western) to end the dominance of Christianity and to cripple both republics.  Russian and Globalist forces, each with their own interests in mind have used Armenia and Artsakh as their theater for political and hot war.   As a result of the 6-week war, both fledgling republics were severely impacted with the death of approximately 5,000 Armenian servicemen (various sources site different casualty numbers) and thousands handicapped. 

Many have observed/commented that the military strategy as implemented by the Commander in Chief has been to send ill-equipped conscripts and volunteers to the front lines, instead of the professional servicemen and special forces.  We’re not sure what led to the massive loss however, one thing is certain: after the war, the Globalist regime occupying Armenia and Artsakh is handing over territory and placing innocent Christians lives at jeopardy. 

After a crippling “peace agreement” signed on November 9, 2020, both republics essentially capitulated their sovereignty as well as the right to self-determination of the Christian Armenians in Artsakh. Furthermore, Azerbaijan has occupied over 160 churches, including the infamous Dadevank and St. Ghazanchetsots Cathedral.  Azerbaijan has publicly announced that it will remove all Armenian inscription as it has been involved in a policy of historical revisionism and cultural genocide.  Along with the churches there are over 591 Armenian Christian artifacts such as the Khachkars under their possession.  We have seen the Azerbaijani hate crimes for Armenians implemented may times in the past starting with the pogroms of Baku, Sumgait, Maraga Kirovabad, and the cultural destruction of Khachkars in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan and official program of hatred towards Armenians taught in the Republic of Azerbaijan public schools.      

Incompetent & Criminal Globalist Regime

After two decades of informational warfare and with shifting geopolitical changes in the Middle East and Eurasia, the time had come for Globalist forces to rip Armenia and Artsakh away from Russia and to attempt to cause damage to the Russian Federation through the Globalist puppet government known as the Social Contract.  Globalists found the right candidate who would lead the charge, and within 40 days in 2018, they overthrew the Serge Sargsyan regime and assumed power.  The outcome of the revolution resulted in the attack on traditional marriage, the Armenian family, Armenian church and nationalism.  They implemented policies to weaken the Constitutional Court and consolidated law enforcement and other security/armed forces under the auspices of the Prime Minister to ensure full compliance and protection of their political power.  This policy of rapid destruction infiltrated the military as well and began to weaken the leadership, starting from high-ranking Russian trained Armenian officers.  Anyone who was capable of effectively organizing a robust defense force to deter the Azerbaijani advancements was effectively neutralized. 

With these policies, the existing regime of Armenia failed to consider the future of the county and how it would be overrun by Muslims and Turkish/Azerbaijani nationals.  The enmity towards Christianity and Armenians is so horrendous that the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev has made bellicose statements claiming that lands in Armenia belong to Azerbaijan, including Yerevan, Lake Sevan and Syunik (southern portion of Armenia)[5].  Furthermore, children in Azerbaijani schools are taught to hate Armenians and this alone is dangerous for any coexistence between these two nations, much less surrendering Christian Armenians of Artsakh to those who wish to ethnically cleanse the Christian Armenian population.   

Russia And Their Involvement

Russia is not innocent in this scenario either.  As a matter of fact, their unethical actions in the Caucasus left millions of Christians in a vulnerable state.  Rather than deal with occupying Globalist forces in Armenia and Artsakh in a targeted fashion, they choose to broker agreements with Turkey and Azerbaijan (both a part of the Globalist forces) and sacrificed the fate of innocent Christians to the hands of genocidal criminal nations. 

Furthermore, Russia implements a double standard (so does the US – in the case of Taiwan), where they are quick to defend the right of ethnic Russians in Crimea, however they have sidestepped the Christians of Artsakh.  Russians claim the right to self-determination for Crimea, but they completely overlook the legal standings of Artsakh. 

Essentially, Russia is guilty of back door agreements with anti-Christian forces that endanger the lives of both Orthodox and Protestant Christian Armenians of Artsakh and Armenia. 

Attack On The Church

The attack on the Armenian Church is done deliberately and is intended to sever this strategic religious and national institution from the nation.  The Armenia Apostolic Church has been integral to the perseveration and advancement of education, culture and the Christian religion for centuries.  In fact, the Armenian Church was single handedly responsible for preserving the Armenian nation after the fall of the last Armenian kingdom in Cilicia in 1375 AD. 

The existing regime has been successful in neutralizing the Armenian Church and they have elevated other churches (non-Orthodox) to “replace” the traditional church.  These types of manipulatives actions should not be tolerated by Protestant churches, and all interaction with a government that creates enmity between churches should not be tolerated.  These churches that are being used politically will also be persecuted once their purpose is accomplished.  Illuminating Faith calls out these churches and implores them to repent and join all churches in Armenia to defend the faith.  Regardless of domination, all will be persecuted by Turanism and the Globalist agenda. 

During and immediately after the 2010 Velvet Revolution a direct movement against the Armenian Apostolic Church rose to overthrow the Catholicos.  This is an antichrist movement because matters of the church are not handled through political demonstrations/hooliganism.   Following this unsuccessful attempt, more policies against the role of the Armenian Church in education was implemented.  All prayer and Christian studies were removed from primary and secondary public-school education.  A nation that removes God from society will indefinitely crumble. 

As mentioned, churches that work with the government and submit to a government that engages in anti-Christian policies will receive their punishment from the Lord.  No church should stand idly by and allow for tyranny to consume the public and to subject the body of Christ.  We must follow the Apostle Peter and enact the same principles as was said to the Sanhedrin in the book of Acts 5:20, “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”.  Furthermore, Paul the Apostle states in Ephesian 5:11, Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Where are the churches in Armenia and Artsakh to expose the evil works of both governments and the forces determined to kill the body of Christ?  It’s imperative that churches act now to save Christians rather than becoming political puppets.    

A case in point to illustrate this matters comes from the comments made by the Prime Minister in 2019 while on a trip to the US.  He stated: “I would like to understand, do we want the government to enter church affairs? If it turns out that the Armenian people want the government to enter church affairs, the government will discuss this demand of the Armenian people, will understand what practical possibilities exist”.[6]  Such comments prove that the individual stating them has no understanding of the Bible, or what the government’s role is in its interaction with the Church.  This man claimed to be a Christian; however, his statements and actions prove otherwise.  That is why churches must follow Christ’s commandment: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).

Previous Regime – The Republican Party Of Armenia

Illuminating Faith acknowledges that the former regime did not manage the country properly and left many issues unresolved leading to an explosion of frustration by the people.  The fact that the Republic of Artsakh wasn’t resolved by a referendum to join both republics, thus protecting the Christian Armenians of Artsakh proved to be a horrible mistake. 

They managed the country in a way that allowed the Globalists to exploit their actions and operatives as well as their love for Western funding kept these institutions in operation.  Armenian should have followed in the Russia’s example to investigate these NGOs, and to legally remove them from the country. 

Whatever their political or legal mistakes or even heavy-handed policies towards the political opposition, the Republic Party of Armenia deterred Turanism from advancing.  

Future Of Christianity In Armenia And Artsakh

The future of Christianity in Armenia and Artsakh depend on the collective unity of the body of Christ in both Armenian republics as well as the universal Church to stand in defense of the faith.  If Armenia and Artsakh fall, then future of Christianity in Armenia and Artsakh along with the the Caucuses will not withstand the Satanic forces determined to eradicate Christians in the region. 

Illuminating Faith urges as believers from all countries to stand up for Christianity in Armenia and Artsakh.  Contact official representatives in countries where the Republic of Armenia Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates and let them know why their destructive policies will usher in a second genocide and persecution of the Christian Church. 


[1] https://eurasianet.org/georgians-wary-of-turkeys-rising-influence-in-batumi

[2] https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-ex-president-kocharian-cleared-of-coup-charges/31190123.html

[3] https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom/open-society-foundations-armenia

[4] https://thearmenite.com/2021/06/foreign-money-in-armenia-ngo-media-funding/

[5] https://armenian.usc.edu/aliyev-makes-territorial-claims-on-armenia-yet-again/

[6] https://caucasuswatch.de/news/2068.html