Bishops’ Assembly to be held in February
Panarmenian.net
On January 13, the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church convened under the presidency of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The Council decided that the Bishops’ Assembly, previously scheduled for late last year but postponed, along with a period of prayerful retreat, will be held in February.
The agenda focused on matters of church governance, regulation, and discipline. Dr. Gevorg Danielyan delivered a report on the current state of church-state relations.
The Council emphasized that the concerns of the Armenian Apostolic Church are being addressed through established procedures and relevant bodies, with appropriate proposals being submitted. It declared that the narrative of “internal church opposition” is artificial and serves to legitimize unlawful state interference in the Church’s internal affairs.
It further noted that since late May 2025, a state-initiated anti-church campaign has become systematic, marked by actions violating the Constitution, criminal prosecution, and pressure on clergy.
The Council expressed gratitude to the faithful and to institutions and individuals who have lawfully supported the Church’s rights. It rejected allegations of the Church’s involvement in politics, calling out government efforts to draw the Church into political processes through artificial agendas as a threat to national unity.
The Council also expressed serious concern over the divisive behavior of ten bishops, as well as their defamatory and accusatory statements against the Mother See and the Catholicos. The Council strongly condemned their support for the government-backed “Reform Program of the Armenian Apostolic Church,” and the unlawful pressure and threats exerted on clergy by diocesan leaders with the participation of local government officials, law enforcement, and security bodies.
The Council called on clergy to reject unlawful demands and to carry out their mission in accordance with the Church’s canons.
After discussing possible paths out of the current crisis, the Council confirmed that the postponed Bishops’ Assembly and the period of prayer will be held in February.
Previously, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, along with ten bishops and archbishops demanding the resignation of the Catholicos, issued a joint statement calling for reform in the Armenian Apostolic Church. Pashinyan read the statement live on Facebook, after which the bishops signed it. He also announced the formation of a coordinating council responsible for organizing the reform process. The council will operate based on unanimous decisions.
The reform roadmap outlined in the statement includes the following agenda: public announcement of the reform process; removal of the de facto head of the Church; election of a locum tenens; adoption of a new Church charter; election of a new Catholicos of All Armenians.
