On February 17, a bishops’ meeting began in St. Pölten, Austria, with the participation of twenty-five archbishops and bishops of the Catholicosate of All Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, including representatives of the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople.
In the morning, the members of the meeting participated in the Divine Liturgy. After spiritual reflection and prayerful sharing, the meeting began in the afternoon.
The bishops’ meeting opened with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians on unity. His Holiness then delivered a sermon and message to the members of the meeting online. Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manoukian, and the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, His Eminence Archbishop Sahak Mashalian, then addressed the participants.
Following the discussion and approval of the agenda, a Divan was elected to further conduct the work of the Assembly of Bishops.
That same day, an evening service was held in the main cathedral of St. Pölten with the participation of the bishops, at which His Eminence Bishop Alois Schwarz, Primate of the Diocese of St. Pölten of the Catholic Church, addressed them with a welcoming address.