Bishops’ Assembly issues statement in Sankt Polten
On February 17-19, in the city of Sankt Polten, Austria, at the invitation and with the blessing of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, the Assembly of Bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church was convened, attended by 25 bishops from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople.
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, participated in the meeting via video link.
At the end of the three-day sessions, the assembly members issued a statement addressing the mission of the church, modern challenges, and church-state relations.
The participants of the assembly expressed concern regarding the current state of church-state relations and called on the RA authorities to cease persecutions against the church, respect the church’s autonomy and sovereignty, and act within the framework of the Constitution and laws. The statement demanded the release of the four detained bishops, the priest, and individuals detained for supporting the church.
The bishops also urged eight high-ranking clerics to discuss intra-church issues exclusively within authorized ecclesiastical bodies and to refrain from actions that could lead to schism.
During the assembly, topics such as “The Mission of the Church in the Modern Era,” “The Current State of Church-State Relations,” and “Protection of Church Autonomy from Political Speculations” were discussed.
The episcopal order also expressed concern regarding the trials conducted in Baku against the leadership of Artsakh and called on the international community to continue efforts toward the release of the hostages.
The participants of the assembly reaffirmed their loyalty to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians, emphasizing the importance of church unity and solidarity.
