Hundreds of citizens, chanting Vehapar, Vehapar (His Holiness) descended on Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport last night to welcome Catholicos Karekin II on his return from the UAE in a symbolic sign of solidarity with the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan, over the past ten days in a series of Facebook posts, has called for Karekin II to step down, claiming the church leader has broken his vow of celibacy and has a child.

Yesterday, Pashinyan proposed that a council be formed to organize elections to select a new Catholicos.

“We would like to express our deep satisfaction and our appreciation to you for having gathered here at this late hour. We know that you have come here to express your indignation regarding the statements made by the Prime Minister of the Republic in recent days against the Church, us, and the clergy,” Karekin II told the crowd.

The church leader urged his supporters “to stay strong in your faith and in your love and loyalty to the Church.”