Bishops’ Synod of the Armenian Church Condemns Downing of Armenian Helicopter by Azerbaijan Armed Forces

On November 13, during the ongoing Bishops’ Synod, being held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; particular reference was made to the incident resulting in the downing of an Armenian helicopter at the Artsakh frontline, condemning the unrestrained provocations by Azerbaijan.

The Bishops’ Synod offered a prayer to God for the rest of the souls of the killed crew members of the stricken helicopter; Major Sergey Sahakyan, Senior Lieutenant Sarkis Nazarian, and Lieutenant Azat Sahakyan; and expressed condolences to their families and friends.

In observance of the current troubling situation, the Bishops’ Synod expressed its support to the Armenian and Nagorno-Karabagh authorities, asking for the Lord to grant peace to our country and people.

The Catholicos of All Armenians, and the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, instructed the bishops to hold commemoration services for the killed airmen. They were also directed to be proactive in all national and international official accounts, to prevent Azerbaijan’s provocative and belligerent actions distorting the peaceful settlement process of the Karabakh conflict, and neutralize the threat of war.

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