The court has extended the detention of Lidya Mantashyan, the only woman in the Sacred Struggle case


In addition to Lidya Mantashyan, the court extended the detention of Movses Sharbatyan for 3 months. At the same time, the court mitigated the preventive measures of other citizens involved in the case: detention to house arrest, house arrest with a ban on absence. On the day of the hearing, supporters of the Sacred Struggle held a demonstration in front of the Prosecutor General's Office. Chanting "Freedom to the Just," they walked from the Prosecutor General's Office to the court.

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrated the three-year anniversary of the Presentation of the Holy Virgin to the Temple


With the blessing of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese, November 21 was also designated as the feast day of the Holy Mother of God Church in Maralik. The relic-bearing right of John the Baptist was transferred from the Seven Wounds Church in Gyumri and a festive liturgy of the feast was served. The holiday got its name from an episode in the childhood of the Virgin Mary, when her parents, Hovakim and Anna, presented the three-year-old Mary to the Temple in Jerusalem.

 

Archbishop Bagrat demanded the resignation of the head of the Investigative Committee


At the court hearing on the Holy Struggle case, Archbishop Bagrat referred to the statement made by the head of the Investigative Committee in parliament that there was a terrorist plan allegedly written by his hand. Archbishop Bagrat officially stated that there was no such plan and demanded that the head of the Investigative Committee answer, but if there is no such thing, he should be removed from office and convicted of slander.

No proceedings have yet been initiated for the dissemination of the recording published in the Holy Struggle case


The defenders in the Holy Struggle case, citing the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, claim that this criminal proceeding pursues a political goal. Archbishop Bagrat reminded the court that about two months ago he made a public statement from the court that there are distortions of events, words, and events in the Holy Struggle proceedings, and no legal process has been initiated regarding these statements of his to date.

The probation service did not return calls to have the defendant transported to the hospital


The health condition of Aghvan Arshakyan, the defendant in the "Holy Struggle" case, has worsened, he has been experiencing pain in his head. The ambulance service arrived and offered to take Arshakyan to the hospital, but Arshakyan's family was unable to establish telephone contact with the probation service. After the break, Arshakyan appeared in court. Due to his health condition, the court had earlier replaced Aghvan Arshakyan's prison detention with house arrest.

Artashat Festival and the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist Church


On October 19, the feast day and the 10th anniversary of the consecration of the St. John the Evangelist Church in Artashat were celebrated. On that day, the Armenian Apostolic Church also celebrates the feast of the Evangelists: St. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The relic of St. Luke the Evangelist was brought to the church from Holy Etchmiadzin.

 

The court hearing in the case of the participants of the "Holy Struggle": 16.10.25


The regular October 16 court hearing on the case of the participants of the "Holy Struggle" was held behind closed doors.

 

At the end of the evening service, a procession began from the St. Mesrop Church in Erebuni


Led by priests, the faithful walked to the Erebuni Museum, then returned to the church. On the way back, the number of pilgrims increased. At the end of the pilgrimage, the Andastan service was performed in the church yard. The priest blessed the four corners of the world with the cross and the Gospel, and asked the Lord for blessings and peace.

Defenders petition to stop criminal prosecution of participants in the Holy Struggle


The defense has filed a motion with the court to terminate the criminal prosecution of all 18 supporters of the struggle and to dismiss the proceedings, based on the lack of evidence of a crime. It has presented the manipulations of high-ranking officials, publications by pro-government media outlets, and successive searches.

The relic of the cross of Christ has been moved to the St. George Church in Kosh


With the blessing of the Patriarch of All Armenians and the initiative of the Primate of the Aragatsotn Diocese, this is the second year that a relic has been transferred to the St. Gevorg Church. Last year, pilgrims also communed with the relic of the commander St. Gevorg. Those present at the liturgy - the godfather of the cross, benefactors, and pilgrims - communed with the relic.

 

Based on the fabricated recording, the defense attorney of Archbishop Bagrat challenged the prosecution


The defense attorney of the archbishop, Hovhannes Khudoyan, stated in court that the statements attributed to the archbishop in the famous recording about “shooting two people, imprisoning 15 people, and burning a bus” are a forgery. Hovhannes Khudoyan was also joined by other defense attorneys. Judge Karen Farkhoyan rejected the motion to disqualify the prosecutors. The next court hearing in the “Holy Struggle” case will be held on October 9.

The court will announce the verdict in the case of Archbishop Michael on October 3.


The public prosecutor did not present any mitigating or aggravating circumstances for Archbishop Michael's sentence and requested that the bishop be sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison. The defense believes that the authorities are pursuing political persecution against Archbishop Michael.