Meeting with the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh

On May 22, a meeting took place between His Grace Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, the Primate of the Diocese of Artsakh, and members of the Diocesan Council with the faculty of the state-accredited Mesrop Mashtots University of Stepanakert.

In his address, the Bishop emphasized the importance of engaging with various governmental and public institutions and individuals connected to Artsakh. He particularly stressed that such meetings aim to preserve the unity of Armenians from Artsakh regardless of their current place of residence, to discuss the critical issue of safeguarding Armenian statehood, and to reflect on the current situation in Artsakh. The Bishop highlighted the dual threat posed by Azerbaijan—on the one hand, the deliberate destruction of Armenian historical and cultural heritage, and on the other, its gross misrepresentation on international platforms—and emphasized the need for effective tools to counter these actions.

Members of the Diocesan Council, including Melanya Balayan (Head of the Diocesan Office), Lernik Hovhannisyan (Chairperson), and Council members Armine Aleksanyan and Karen Mirzoyan, presented the current efforts undertaken by the Diocese of Artsakh. In his remarks, D. Gabrielian, Rector of Mesrop Mashtots University, expressed his gratitude for the invitation and underscored the significance of such meetings, affirming the university’s readiness to stand by the Church at all times. The gathering concluded with a prayer for the Armenian prisoners held in Baku's prisons.