Meeting at the Diocesan Headquarters
On May 20, upon the initiative of His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) in Artsakh, and with the participation of the Diocesan Council members, a meeting was held with members of the Artsakh Government. Present at the gathering were State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Aram Sargsyan, heads and representatives of various state agencies, and other invited guests. Welcoming the attendees, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan opened the meeting with the Lord’s Prayer. Expressing his gratitude for their acceptance of the invitation, the Bishop emphasized the importance of such meetings, noting that the Church has always stood by the state and acted in support of the nation’s statehood. In his address, His Grace highlighted two crucial elements in the mission of return: first, to preserve the unity of the people of Artsakh, regardless of their current place of residence; and second, to safeguard our statehood at all costs.
Melanya Balayan, member of the Diocesan Council and Head of the Artsakh Diocese Office, presented the background of the Office’s establishment. She noted that it began its activities in June 2024 at the initiative of Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan and with the support of Mr. Yuri Navoyan, head of the "Dialogue" organization. Since its inception, the Office has implemented several significant and timely projects. It includes departments for external relations, preservation of historical and cultural heritage, and informational outreach. Several projects have already been successfully carried out. Soon, an exhibition entitled "Artsakh: Endangered Heritage" will be inaugurated at a designated hall of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. It is intended for foreign ambassadors in Armenia, representatives of relevant international organizations, and all individuals and institutions concerned with the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Sponsored by the “Dialogue” organization, a photo album based on the exhibition is also being prepared for publication. It will be the first volume in the planned book series of the Artsakh Diocese. Ms. Balayan emphasized that the series is being launched with the support of Mr. Yuri Navoyan. In the near future, a trilingual publication titled "The Catholicosal Residences of Aghvank" will also be released.
Several other planned and ongoing programs were also presented, aimed at addressing the educational, cultural, and social needs of the people of Artsakh, as well as the ultimate goal of return. The realization of these goals, it was noted, is only possible through joint efforts.
In his remarks, State Minister Aram Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan for initiating the meeting and for the opportunity to discuss pressing issues concerning the people of Artsakh. He also stressed the need to render future cooperation more practical and effective. Lernik Hovhannisyan, Chair of the Diocesan Council, reflected on the Diocese’s work, both past and present, emphasizing the importance and desirability of the participation of compatriots and friends from the diaspora in the Diocese’s activities.
Council member Armine Aleksanyan also addressed the need not only to raise awareness of Artsakh’s cultural heritage in international platforms but to initiate legal proceedings for its protection. According to Ms. Aleksanyan, the preservation of historical and cultural heritage should follow two pathways: legal action and collaboration with various organizations.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh and Council member Karen Mirzoyan emphasized the preservation of Artsakh’s state institutions, underscoring that it is not an end in itself, but a vital necessity. Several other speeches were delivered. Summarizing the meeting, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan underscored the importance of joint efforts aimed at solving the pressing issues of the people of Artsakh. The meeting concluded with the Lord’s Prayer and a blessing.
