The Bishops’ Synod will take place, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II told Aysor.am.

The Aysor.am reporter had asked the Catholicos whether the Bishops’ Synod will be held, and Karekin II had responded: “Yes.”

At the invitation of the Catholicos of All Armenians, the Bishops’ Synod is scheduled for February 16-19 in Saint Polten, Austria.

But the Armenian authorities, who have declared a campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church, are seeking ways to prevent the bishops in Armenia from attending this synod.

Six bishops and one priest of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin have become defendants. They are accused of obstructing the execution of a court order requiring Arman Saroyan—the defrocked Bishop Gevorg Saroyan—to be reinstated as the Primate of the Diocese of Masis of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Bishops Makar, Hovnan, Natan, Haykazun, Mushegh and Vahan, as well as Father Movses, were summoned to the Investigative Committee of Armenia. A travel ban was imposed as a pretrial measure against them.