Priest Vrtanes Baghalyan has undergone stenting; his condition is  assessed as stable

ArmInfo.  Priest Vrtanes Baghalyan, who was hospitalized yesterday amidst the events unfolding in Etchmiadzin, has undergone  stenting; his condition is assessed as  stable, as reported by the Pan-Armenian Council for the Preservation  of the Armenian Church.

The previous day, December 18, 2025, at approximately 7:00 PM, the  health of Priest Vrtanes Baghalyan, a cleric of the Surb Hovhannes  (St. John the Baptist) Church in Byurakan, worsened amidst the events  unfolding in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. An ambulance crew  took him to the Mastermed Medical Center. Currently, Father Vrtanes  Baghalyan is in the intensive care unit. He is conscious and his  condition is stable. The medical team assesses a favorable outcome,  and no further interventions are currently necessary.

Visits are temporarily restricted in accordance with the ICU's  instructions; if he is transferred to a regular ward, visits will be  organized at the appointed time.

The Council expresses its deep gratitude to the medical team at the  Mastermed Medical Center for their prompt and professional work and  calls on the faithful to support Father Vrtanes with prayers for his  speedy recovery," the statement from the Pan-Armenian Council for the  Preservation of the Armenian Church reads.

It should be noted that on December 17, ten bishops of the Armenian  Apostolic Church (who had previously pledged allegiance to Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan) issued a statement calling on  faithful to  join them at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on December 18 to   demand the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. The  bishops' statement was published in the newspaper "Haykakan  Zhamanak," which is owned by the Pashinyan family.

During a government briefing on December 18, Pashinyan stated that  the invitation issued by these ten bishops was "entirely legitimate."  He referred to the Catholicos of All Armenians, as well as the clergy  who supported the Patriarch, as  "sectarians." According to him, he  is not directing the actions of the rebel hierarchs, but  welcomes  them. That evening, around 6:00 PM, the schismatic bishops headed  toward the Cathedral, accompanied by plainclothes guards. The  faithful booed and chanted "Judas, Judas," after which the bishops  made a short statement and hastily left the territory of the Mother  See of Holy Etchmiadzin, accompanied by a large NSS special group,  promising "to pray in the Cathedral next time."