PanARMENIAN.Net - The Diocesan Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Artsakh has released a statement condemning the recent actions of its Primate, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, stating that it had no prior knowledge of his decisions and that his stance does not reflect the position or expectations of the people of Artsakh.
"The Artsakh Diocesan Council expresses deep concern over the conduct and views recently adopted by the diocesan primate, which have become widely publicized. The council was not informed in advance of these actions, which did not arise from a unified position or local discussions. These moves have sparked anger, resentment, and distrust among many Artsakh residents, and we fully understand these sentiments," the statement reads.
The council met with Bishop Abrahamyan to hear his explanations but concluded: "We cannot share and strongly condemn these positions, as they do not represent the stance or expectations of the people of Artsakh."
It reaffirmed its belief that all ecclesiastical matters should be resolved within the Church, following established regulations, traditions, and national values. "We remain committed to representing our people's interests and upholding Church order, emphasizing that future actions and decisions should be made with mutual respect, coordination, and community unity," it added.
Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan signed a statement against Archbishop Arshak and later met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. These moves have been met with controversy in Artsakh. Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan later said he met with the bishop and asked whether the meeting had been coordinated with the Catholicos. He received a negative response and drew his own conclusions accordingly.