In Armenia, Archbishop Bagrat becomes a candidate for premiership
AAC Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. Sputnik photo
On May 26th, in Armenia, amid anti-government protests, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of the parliamentary opposition and head of the Tavush Diocese, announced that he is temporarily suspending his duties as a priest to become the sole opposition candidate for prime minister, according to Sputnik Armenia.
"I have asked His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II to freeze my 30-year spiritual service," noted the archbishop. He also emphasized that he never sought to become prime minister, but his struggle has led to this. "I am no longer in the Tavush Diocese, but I continue to remain an archbishop. This is my rank," he said.
As reported by the UOJ, on May 4th, Archbishop Galstanyan, with the blessing of Catholicos Karekin II, began a march from the Tavush region of Armenia and announced protests in Yerevan starting from May 9th against the Armenian government's policies regarding the demarcation of borders with Azerbaijan. Heads of all dioceses of the Armenian Church joined Archbishop Bagrat, starting marches from different regions of Armenia.
Read also
Myltsi Monastery shows pictures of shrine's revival from ruins
Archive footage of the St. Nicholas Monastery in Myltsi dated 1994 and modern photos of the revived monastery have been published online.
Embassy of Ukraine holds "prayer for Ukraine" at Weiling Wall in Jerusalem
The Ukrainian Embassy performed a ceremony at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
Founder of children's shelter in Athens asks for help to avoid prison
The Athens Court of Appeals sentenced the head of the Greek foundation to 9.5 years in prison with the right of redemption.
In Butove, OCU supporters hold meeting on UOC parish "transfer"
In the House of Culture, residents of the village of Butove, Rivne region, decided the fate of St. John's Church of the UOC.
His Beatitude reads first part of Great Penitential Canon at Lavra
Metropolitan Onuphry led the Great Compline at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.
Orthodox youth meetings held in deaneries of UOC's Rivne Eparchy
Spiritual and educational events ahead of Great Lent were held in the deaneries of the Rivne Eparchy with the participation of clergy and Orthodox youth.