ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆՅԱՅՑ ԱՌԱՔԵԼԱԿԱՆ ՍՈՒՐԲ ԵԿԵՂԵՑՈՒ ԻՐԱՎԱԿԱՆ ԿԱՐԳԱՎԻՃԱԿԸ՝ ԿՐՈՆԱԿԱՆ ԲԱԶՄԱԿԱՐԾՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՀԱՄԱՏԵՔՍՏՈՒՄ / THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC HOLY CHURCH IN THE CONTEXT OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

<jats:p>The article discusses the legal status of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church in the context of religious pluralism. It analyzes the constitutional recognition of the Church's role, as well as the legal significance of the term “national church.” Based on the study of international experience and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, it is concluded that the recognition of a national church does not contradict freedom of religion, provided that guarantees of nondiscrimination and equality are ensured. At the same time, from the perspective of legal certainty, it is proposed to legally define the concept of “national church.” Considering that, in practice, cases of interference by state bodies and officials in the internal affairs of the Church occur rather frequently, it is proposed to establish legal liability for such actions in order to ensure the principle of state secularism.</jats:p>