The Bishops’ Assembly to Take Place in February Outside of Armenia

Under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council was held on January 13 at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, during which it was decided that the postponed Bishops’ Assembly will be organized in February.

The Bishops’ Assembly will not take place at the Mother See, but rather outside of Armenia. This decision was made considering the anti-church campaign by the authorities and its repercussions. This information was reported by Aysor.am.

It should be noted that by the directive of His Holiness Karekin II, the Bishops’ Assembly had been convened on December 10-12 following discussions at the Supreme Spiritual Council meeting held from November 4-7, to address recent developments concerning the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and issues related to internal church life.

However, on December 7, it was revealed that the convening of the Bishops’ Assembly had been temporarily postponed. “Considering the current situation in Armenia, particularly the crackdown on clergy, including arrests, and in response to the request of the bishops, it has been decided by the Catholicos of All Armenians to temporarily postpone the convening of the Bishops’ Assembly,” it was stated by the Mother See.

It is important to mention that the Bishops’ Assembly is constituted of all bishops of the Armenian Church, with the Catholicos of All Armenians serving as its president. The legal framework of the Bishops’ Assembly includes the following areas: a. Definition of theological questions, b. Reforms of liturgical practices and establishment of new rituals, c. Reforms and establishment of new laws related to ecclesiastical and religious life, d. Confirmation of the results of inter-church dialogues, e. Discussion of inter-church and interfaith issues, f. Matters assigned and authorized by the National Church Assembly.