Armenian Church to hold council in Austria despite government obstacles

Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Vagharshapat, Armenia. Photo: wdacna.com

The Armenian Apostolic Church has decided to hold its Episcopal Council in Austria despite a travel ban imposed on six participants. This was reported on February 10, 2026, by Sputnik Armenia, citing Fr. Yesai Artenyan, director of the information system of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.

According to him, the venue remains unchanged – the council is scheduled for February 16–19 in the city of St. Pölten.

The travel ban applies to Bishops Hovnan Hakobyan and Makar Hakobyan, Archbishop Natan Hovhannisyan, as well as Bishops Vahan Hovhannisyan, Haykazun Najaryan, and Mushegh Babayan. In addition, three hierarchs – Bagrat Galstanyan, Arshak Khachatryan, and Mkrtich Proshyan – are currently being held in pretrial detention; Mikael Ajapahyan is under house arrest.

Amid preparations for the council, proceedings continue concerning Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, the former head of the Masisotn Eparchy. On January 10, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II removed him from office amid allegations of abuse of authority and pressure on clergy. Saroyan challenged the decision in court, after which bailiffs temporarily barred the Church from interfering with his activity. Later, the Supreme Spiritual Council defrocked Saroyan. Armenia’s Investigative Committee treated this as failure to comply with a court act and opened a criminal case.

The Armenian Apostolic Church stresses that, under the country’s Constitution, the Church is separated from the state, and therefore government interference in internal church matters is a cause of serious concern.

As the UOJ previously reported, Pashinyan compared Armenian Church clergy to Islamists.

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