Artsakh NGOs ask Catholicos to replace diocese leader

PanARMENIAN.Net - Representatives of dozens of civil society organizations and members of the civic community in Artsakh have sent a letter to His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, expressing their dissatisfaction and concern regarding Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, the head of the Artsakh Diocese. They have requested that the Catholicos consider replacing him.

The letter states that the current bishop has completely lost the trust of Artsakh’s faithful.

“As Artsakh residents, we are reluctantly compelled to turn to Your Holiness, voicing our deep disappointment and indignation at the recent actions and public conduct of Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, head of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

It was deeply troubling and unspeakably offensive for all of us to witness how Bishop Abrahamyan, violating the laws of our Holy Church, effectively defied the Catholicos of All Armenians—our divinely anointed patriarch—who has consistently kept Artsakh and its people at the center of his attention and has advocated for their rights on major international platforms.

It is also unacceptable that Bishop Abrahamyan, who is called to protect the sacred heritage and faithful people entrusted to him, is instead acting in opposition to that duty. In particular, he has shown reverence to the main figure responsible for the political decision to surrender Artsakh, with its monasteries, churches, khachkars, cemeteries, and holy sites, to the enemy, effectively aligning himself with an anti-church, blasphemous campaign.

This conduct, in both substance and manner, was seen as a capitulation to Nikol Pashinyan and a justification of his actions, sparking rightful outrage and a collapse of public trust in the bishop among the people of Artsakh.

What’s especially painful is that despite numerous appeals from the faithful, Bishop Abrahamyan has not shown remorse or apologized to the people of Artsakh. Instead, he avoids meeting his compatriots, does not respond to calls, and openly demonstrates disrespect toward his community.

Given these facts, we ask you to consider replacing the current head of the Artsakh Diocese. He has completely lost the trust of the faithful and, by his own actions, no longer has any moral authority to lead the betrayed Armenian diocese of Artsakh.

We respectfully ask that you listen to the heartfelt plea of your spiritual children in Artsakh and consider our request as a true reflection of the people’s sentiments.”

More than 20 NGOs and prominent civil society figures have joined the statement, including Artsakh’s second and third human rights defenders, Ruben Melikyan and Artak Beglaryan, as well as the current Ombudsman, Gegham Stepanyan.

Meanwhile, a group of senior Armenian Apostolic Church clerics—archbishops and bishops—have released a separate statement accusing Catholicos Karekin II of covering up alleged misconduct by Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See. They claim that the Catholicos has violated his oath. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with the clerics and welcomed their stance. In a follow-up statement on November 29, the group also called on Karekin II to step down. Bishop Abrahamyan was among them.