Artsakh people will unequivocally reject the leadership of Bishop Vrtanes – Metakse Hakobyan

Yesterday, it was reported that the actions of Vrtanes Bishop Abrahamyan, head of the Artsakh Diocese, have sparked outrage among the people of Artsakh. It should be recalled that, along with other high-ranking clergymen, he met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and signed a statement calling for the removal of Archbishop Arshak from the Mother See.

In an interview with Aysor.am, Artsakh National Assembly deputy Metakse Hakobyan said that, overall, Vrtanes’ actions were not entirely unexpected.

“However, what was surprising was the extent of his actions – he aligned himself with the leadership that surrendered Artsakh and caused thousands of casualties,” she explained.

“In other respects, it was not unexpected. After the devastating 2020 war, we never truly felt the Diocese’s leadership. When the blockade began, Bishop Vrtanes’ whereabouts were unknown. Later, we learned that he was in the Republic of Armenia, without having consulted us. He did not return to Artsakh even when many officials, who had remained on this side of the bridge during the blockade, were able to return through the mediation of Russian peacekeepers.

Even during the displacement, I must sadly note that when there was a need for a spiritual leader to guide the people on that difficult journey, Bishop Vrtanes was absent. After the displacement, before any process, we sought his blessing, and I must regretfully say that we were met with indifference; at no point did we feel the presence of the Diocese’s leadership,” Hakobyan added.

She further noted that the people of Artsakh welcomed the decision of the Mother See to retain the Artsakh Diocese, and for a long time refrained from making public demands of Bishop Vrtanes in order to avoid putting the already-pressured Catholicos in a difficult position.

“We acted fully aware that the Catholicos himself is under pressure, particularly because he chose to preserve the Artsakh Diocese and raise the issue of Artsakh within international Christian institutions. We even tried to overlook Bishop Vrtanes’ behavior, solely to avoid harming the Catholicos or targeting the Church,” Hakobyan said.

She emphasized that Bishop Vrtanes’ actions were not accepted by the people of Artsakh, and that the population has clearly demanded that political leaders address the issue.

“We understand that resolving this matter falls under the authority of the Catholicos, but we cannot remain silent: under any circumstances, Bishop Vrtanes will not continue his leadership. The people will unequivocally reject him, and the clergy have expressed anger over these developments. The Catholicos must understand that the Diocese also does not accept this person’s leadership.”

When asked whether Bishop Vrtanes is aware of the people’s decision, Hakobyan replied:

“I believe he is, as our message was conveyed to him through the clergy. The council at the leadership headquarters has held discussions, which, according to reports, Bishop Vrtanes also attended. A statement from the clergy will follow, after which the subsequent processes will take place.”