Armenian Church bishops hold meeting in Austria without Catholicos
Assembly of Bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Photo: Voice of Armenia
On February 17, 2026, an assembly of bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church began its work in the Austrian city of St. Pölten, with 25 archbishops and bishops taking part, Voice of Armenia reports.
Hierarchs from the jurisdiction of Holy Etchmiadzin are participating, along with representatives of the Armenian Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople. The Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, was not present in person and delivered an exhortation to the participants online.
The assembly began with the Sunrise service (Arevagal), after which the opening session took place with the “Our Father” and a reading from the Apostle Paul’s message on church unity. The bishops then approved the agenda and elected a secretariat to coordinate the work going forward.
That same day, an evening service was held in St. Pölten’s cathedral with the delegates in attendance. The head of the local Catholic eparchy, Bishop Alois Schwarz, addressed those assembled with a greeting.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Catholicos and Robert Amsterdam discussed the persecution of the Church in Armenia.
Read also
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.
UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery
Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.