Episcopal Assembly Commences in St. Pölten, Austria
18.02.2026
On February 17, the Episcopal Assembly convened 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 from the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Constantinople.
In the morning, the assembly members attended the Sunrise Hour Service. Following a period of spiritual retreat and prayer, the afternoon session of the assembly commenced.
The Episcopal Assembly opened with the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians on the topic of unity. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, addressed the assembly members in an online pastoral message.
Messages of greeting were subsequently conveyed to the participants by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manoukian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and His Beatitude Archbishop Sahak Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.
After discussing and approving the agenda, a Council was elected to oversee the Episcopal Assembly's further work.
On the same day, an Evening Service was held at the Cathedral of St. Pölten with the participation of the bishops, during which Bishop Alois Schwarz, Primate of the Catholic Church in St. Pölten, delivered his welcoming address.
Council of the Episcopal Assembly
