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.
Read also
Israeli rabbis lash out at pope over anti-war remarks
In Israel, the pontiff’s calls for peace were said to blur the line between aggressor and defender, with critics demanding: “Do not preach morality to us.”
Metropolitan Victor leads patronal feast of persecuted Krasyliv community
The Resurrection parish of the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC celebrated its patronal feast in makeshift premises.
Shevchuk to Zelensky: We tell the world there is religious liberty in Ukraine
During the UCCRO meeting with Zelensky, Shevchuk assured the president that Greek Catholics are telling the world that Ukraine enjoys freedom of religion.
UGCC head: Certain processes divided Christians of Ukraine in 16th century
Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that until the sixteenth century, the history of Christianity on Kyiv’s holy hills was one, and then “certain processes” took place.
Court again extends preventive measure for Metropolitan Theodosiy
A court in Cherkasy ignored the defense’s arguments about the lack of evidence and kept the hierarch under a personal recognizance measure for another two months.
Bezuhlivka UOC community, “transferred” to OCU, continues to hold services
In the Chernihiv region, UOC faithful refused to recognize a “transfer” organized without their real participation and continue to worship in their own church.