AAC Artsakh Diocesan Council defends head of diocese Archbishop  Vratanes

ArmInfo. The Artsakh Diocesan Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church issued a statement defending the head of the diocese, Archbishop Vratanes Abrahamyan,  who has joined Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's anti-church  campaign.

The statement notes that last week, publications attributed to the  Artsakh Diocesan Council appeared in the press, although the Diocesan  Council has not issued any statements recently.

It further states that individual Council members attributed  statements made in their names to the Diocesan Council for political  purposes, exceeding their authority as members of this advisory body.  "The current Council of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic  Church was formed on the initiative of the diocesan primate, Bishop  Vrtanes Abrahamyan, and through his appointment of Council members,  which was confirmed by his decree on March 11, 2024.

Since June 2024, some Council members have also served as employees  of the Artsakh Diocese in Yerevan. On November 28, Vrtanes Abrahamyan  met with three of the eight Council members in the Yerevan Diocese  and presented his ideas for overcoming the current crisis, improving  the situation, and preserving the authority and mission of the Mother  See of Etchmiadzin. These ideas are based on his conviction in the  need to preserve and further strengthen the Armenian Apostolic Church  in its spiritual mission and moral position. These approaches were  also expressed publicly," the statement reads.

The Diocesan Council's statement also asserted that in the following  days, some Council members, for "obvious political purposes," not  only distorted the content and format of this meeting in the media,  but also insulted the Primate of the Diocese and initiated a  propaganda campaign.

"Unnecessary speculation about the Artsakh Diocese during the  political struggle harms this spiritual institution, which is so  important for the Armenians of Artsakh," the statement reads.

It is worth noting that the head of the Artsakh Diocese is among 10  bishops who have joined Pashinyan's anti-church campaign and are  demanding the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.   Vrtanes himself refused to comment to the media on his actions, which  have provoked the outright anger of many Artsakh residents. They are  outraged that the head of the Artsakh Diocese bowed to the man who  bears full responsibility for the loss of Artsakh.