At the invitation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, the Bishops’ Synod of the Armenian Apostolic Church will be held from February 16 to 19 in Sankt Pölten, Austria. This was announced by Fr. Yesayi Artenyan, Director of the Information Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, according to Radar Armenia.

“It’s important to note that, except for the National Ecclesiastical Assembly, any governing body of the Armenian Apostolic Church may hold its meetings in any location. There have been precedents of both Bishops’ Synods and Supreme Spiritual Council sessions convening abroad. Accordingly, this synod will be held in Sankt Pölten,” Fr. Yesayi said.

Originally scheduled for December 10–12, the Bishops’ Synod was postponed due to the current situation in Armenia, particularly the pressure and detentions targeting clergy. “In response to requests from bishops and due to the prevailing conditions, the Catholicos decided to temporarily postpone the synod,” an earlier statement noted.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and bishops demanding the Catholicos’ resignation recently issued a joint statement calling for reforms within the Armenian Apostolic Church. Pashinyan read the statement live on Facebook, after which it was signed by the supporting bishops and archbishops. He also announced the formation of a coordinating council tasked with overseeing the reform process. The council will be expanded only by unanimous decision.

The statement also outlined a church reform roadmap, including: public declaration of the reform agenda; removal of the Church’s de facto leader; election of a locum tenens Catholicos; adoption of a new church statute; and the eventual election of a new Catholicos.