Armenian Apostolic Church Assembly of Bishops Opens in Austria

PÖLTEN, AUSTRIA — The Assembly of Bishops began its work yesterday in the city of St. Pölten, Austria. The gathering is attended by twenty-five archbishops and bishops of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church, including representatives from the Armenian Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople.

“The Assembly of Bishops opened with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a reading from the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians on unity. His Holiness Karekgin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, then delivered his fatherly message and blessing to the participants online,” the official statement said.

The episcopal council convened on the premises of a Catholic church in St. Pölten was ultimately held as a gathering rather than a formal council. It could not be considered a council because, under church canon law, such a body—empowered to adopt doctrinal and canonical decisions—is presided over by the Catholicos of All Armenians. However, he was charged on Saturday and barred from leaving the country.

The Mother See had justified the decision to convene the episcopal meeting in Austria as a way to shield clergy from potential pressure. The day before charges were brought against the Catholicos, Prime Minister Pashinyan had promised a strong response, arguing that convening a council outside Armenia was intended to move the Catholicosate out of the country.