Armenian Church Bishops to Meet in Austria Amid Crisis at Home
Amid mounting pressure from Armenian authorities, the Armenian Apostolic Church will hold its global bishops’ council in Austria rather than Etchmiadzin.
SANKT PÖLTEN, AUSTRIA — The highest governing body of the Armenian Apostolic Church will convene outside Armenia next month amid escalating tensions between church leaders and the Armenian government. A Council of all Armenian bishops is scheduled for mid-February in the Austrian city of Sankt Pölten, bringing together approximately 55 hierarchs from around the world under the chairmanship of Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
According to Austrian media, the meeting will be held at the Hippolythaus, a facility of the Catholic Diocese of Sankt Pölten, hosted by Bp. Alois Schwarz, who has long-standing ties with the Armenian Church. Armenian Bishop of Vienna Tiran Petrosyan is playing a central role in organizing the gathering.
The decision to move the Council from its traditional location in Etchmiadzin follows a sharp deterioration in relations between Armenia’s authorities and church leadership, including arrests of hierarchs and public calls for the Catholicos’ removal. Participants are expected to discuss the Church’s response to the deepening crisis.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Armenia faces church-state tensions as six clergy are arrested.
