Armenian Churches’ Appeal to Christians Around the World

The united representatives of all Armenian churches worldwide have issued an urgent appeal to Christians around the world, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan.

The call for the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners of war and detained civilians reflects a deep commitment to Christian values and human dignity, underscoring the urgent need for peace and reconciliation. It highlights the importance of ending violence and inhumane treatment, promoting respect for the inherent dignity of all people, regardless of nationality. The path to lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan can only be realized when humanitarian concerns — such as the return of all prisoners of war and other detained civilians — are addressed.

Below is their letter, signed by one hundred clergy members:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We, the united representatives of all Armenian Churches around the world stand together in the most urgent and heartfelt plea for the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war and detained civilians currently held in Azerbaijan.

This is not just a call for the release of innocent lives; it is a cry for justice, dignity, and the restoration of humanity. These individuals, taken in the course of conflict, have been subjected to unimaginable suffering, and their continued detention is a violation of every principle of human decency and Christian compassion. In the name of our shared faith, we can no longer remain silent. The time for action is now.

The inhumane treatment of these prisoners goes against the very essence of our faith. The violence, the suffering, the torment they endure must end. The world cannot stand by while innocent people are held captive, deprived of their dignity and their basic human rights. The gravity of this situation is of the utmost importance, as the health of Ruben Vardanyan, former Artsakh State Minister, is rapidly deteriorating. Ruben is currently on an ongoing hunger strike in protest of the theatrical “court” proceedings by Azerbaijani authorities. Every single day increasingly critical and accountable.

We cannot and will not accept a future where such inhumanity is allowed to persist. All peoples of the region—whether Armenian, Azerbaijani, or any other deserve peace. Peace built on the foundation of justice. Peace where the dignity of every person is safeguarded, where the chains of suffering are broken, and where every soul is allowed to live in freedom.

We, the Armenian Churches across the world, demand the immediate return of all prisoners of war and detained civilians to their families. This is not merely a humanitarian necessity – it is a moral imperative. The release of Armenian prisoners can be the beginning of a new chapter, one where healing replaces hatred, where understanding overcomes division, and where peace is not just a dream, but a reality.

We urge governments, international organizations and all people of good will to condemn this show trial as political and illegitimate, and to pressure the authorities involved to return these innocent lives to their rightful homes. Do not turn away from the suffering of others. Stand with us. Stand for justice. Stand for peace.

May the light of truth, compassion, and justice guide all of us toward a world where no one is left in chains, where every human life is valued, and where peace is more than just a word – it is a living, breathing reality for all.

In unwavering solidarity and faith,

The list is arranged in alphabetical order
1	Rev. Father	Sargis	Abrahamian	Member of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
2	Rev. Father	Samuel	Ajamian	Pastor, All Saints’ Armenian Apostolic Church, Glenview, IL
3	Archpriest Fr.	Sarkis	Aktavoukian	Pastor, Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church, Bethesda, MD
4	Proto-Archimandrite	Gusan	Alchanyan	Locum Tenens, St. Jacob Church, Geneva, Switzerland
5	Archbishop	Nareg	Alemezian	Dr. Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia) Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia (Antelias, Lebanon)
6	Very Rev. Fr.	Ardag	Arabian	Pastor, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, MA
7	V. Rev. Father	Dajad	Ashekian	Chancellor of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
8	Pastor	Keri	Ashekian	Visiting Clergy, St. Stepanos Armenian Apostolic Church, Windsor, Ontario
9	Bishop	Kévork	Assadourian	Patriarchal Exarch of Damascus of the Armenians (Syria)
10	Reverent fr.	Vrtanes	Babakhanian	St. Targmanchats Church, Tehran
11	Bishop	Koryun	Baghdasaryan	Director of the Real Estate Department of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
12	Very Rev. Fr.	Vache	Balekjian	Pastor, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Ridgefield, NJ
13	Rev. Father	Stephan	Baljian	Pastor, St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, MA
14	V. Rev. Father	Hovagim	Banjarjian	Director of the Information Department of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
15	Archbishop	Khajag	Barsamian	Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See
16	Bishop	Nareg	Berberian	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Brazil
17	Father	Samvel	Mkhitarian	Abbot of Hagartsin Monastery, Chairman of the Administrative Council of Tavush Diocese
18	Rev. Father	Oshin	Chualertanian	Grand Sacristan of the Mother Cathedral of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
19	Rev. Father.	Mikael	Der Kosrofian	Pastor, St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church, Whitinsville, MA
20	Archbishop	Hovnan	Derderian	Primate of the Western Diocese of the US
21	Abbot	Azat	Filikian	Supervisor of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia’s Seminary
22	Rev. Father	Sipan	Grigoryan	Director of General Department Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia
23	Archimandrite	Oshagan	Gulgulian	Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Iraq
24	Rev. Father	Hagop	Gyadayan	Pastor, St. Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church, Laval des Rapides, Quebec
25	Bishop	Datev	Hagopian	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Romania and Bulgaria
26	Rev. Father	Khatchatour	Haroutounian	St. Targmanchats Church, Tehran
27	Bishop	Abgar	Hovakimyan	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada
28	Subdeacon	Edvis	Hovnanian	St. Grigor Lousavorich Church, Tehran
29	Rev. Father	Karnik	Hovsepian	Qamishly Syria; St. Joseph Armenian Catholic Church
30	Bishop	Serovpe	Isakhanyan	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Germany
31	Father	Serop	Jamourlian	Mekhitsarist monk
32	Abbot	Arakel	Kadehjian	Member of the Brotherhood of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
33	V. Rev. Father	Kevork	Karageozian	Supervisor of the Seminary of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
34	Rev. Father	Artak A.	Keheayan	Spiritual Pastor of St. Vartanants Church, Kuwait
35	Rev. Father	Garo	Kelendjian	Armenian Catholic Church of Zmmar, Lebanon
36	Rev. Father	Hagob	Keshishian	St. Mariam Church, Tehran
37	Father	Hamazasp	Keshishian	Monk of the Mekhitarist Congregation and Rector of the Mekhitarist Seminary
38	Rev.Father	Hrant	Kevorkian	Pastor, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Dearborn, MI
39	Rev. Father	Mashtots	Khachatourian	St. Vartanants Church, Tehran
40	Subdeaconess	Lioda	Khosrovian	St. Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran
41	Rev. Father	Sahak	Khosrovian	St. Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran
42	Rev. Father	Sarkis	Khosrovian	St. Targmanchats Church, Tehran
43	V. Rev. Father	Elias	Kiredjian	Saint Gregory the Illuminator, Toronto
44	Right Rev. Father	Keghart	Kosbakian	Spiritual Dean, St. Nishan Armenian Apostolic Church, Cambridge, Ontario
45	Rev. Father	Vahan	Kouyoumdjian	Visiting Pastor, Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, Troy, NY
46	Reverend Father	Antranig	Kyurumian	Director of the Birds’ Nest Orphanage; the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
47	Rev. Father	Mesrob	Lakissian	Pastor, St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, New York, NY
48	Rev. Father	Nareg	Louissian	Armenian Catholic Church of Zmmar, Lebanon
49	Rev. Father	Taniel	Manjikian	Pastor, St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Granite City, IL
50	Bishop	Petros	Manouelian	Pontifical Vicar of the Armenian Diocese of Kuwait and the Surrounding Region
51	Rev. Father	Nshan	Manougian	Pastor, St. Nishan Armenian Apostolic Church, Cambridge, Ontario
52	Bishop	Hovakim	Manukyan	Primate of Great Britain and Ireland
53	Deaconess	A.Christy	Manvelian	St. Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran
54	Subdeaconess	Anage	Margarian	St. Targmanchats Church, Tehran
55	Archpriest	Datev	Mikaelian	Pastor, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Willowdale, Ontario
56	Archbishop	Vazgen	Mirzakhanyan,	Director of the Department of Ecclesiastical Conceptual Issues of the Mother See
57	Bishop	Ashot	Mnatsakanian	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt
58	Bishop	Mikael	Mouradian	Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the US and Canada
59	Subdeacon	Armond	Movsesian	St. Targmanchats Church, Tehran
60	Patriarchal Exarch	Nareg	Naamoyan	Jerusalem and Amman of the Armenians (Jordan) and Priest of Kameshli of the Armenians (Syria)
61	V. Rev. Father	Zaven	Najarian	Director of the “Khoren Ayp Center” of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
62	Bishop	Armash	Nalbandian	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus
63	Bishop	Vartan	Navasardyan	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of the Baltic States and Sweden
64	Rev.Father	Kapriel	Nazarian	Pastor, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Providence, RI
65	Rev. Father	Gourgen	Nersessian	St. Grigor Lousavorich Church, Tehran
66	Rev. Father.	Grigoris	Nersessian	St. Grigor Lousavorich Church, Tehran
67	Father	Vahan	Ohanyan	Mekhitsarist monk
68	Archbishop	Shahe	Panosian	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Lebanon
69	Dr.	Michael	Papazian	Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Berry College, Georgia, USA
70	V. Rev. Father	Stepanos	Pashayan	Director of the Christian Education Department of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
71	Subdeaconess	Lala	Petrosian	St. Grigor Lousavorich Church, Tehran
72	Bishop	Tiran	Petrosyan	Pontifical Legate of Central Europe and Sweden
73	Rev. Father	Dikran	Philibbos	Armenian Catholic Church of Zmmar, Lebanon
74	Rev. Father.	Mesrob	Ratevosian	St. Grigor Lousavorich Church, Tehran
75	Archpriest Fr.	Zareh	Sahakian	Visiting Pastor, St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church, Racine, WI
76	Subdeacon fr.	Toni	Salatinian	St. Vartanants Church, Tehran
77	Archbishop	Sebouh	Sarkissian	Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran
78	Archbishop	Shahan	Sarkissian	Director of the Cilicia Library and the Ancient Manuscript Department at the Catholicosate
79	Father	Kevork	Sarkisyan	Mekhitsarist monk
80	Rev. Father	Yezekel	Selumian	Monk of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
81	Deacon	Artin	Shahbazian	St. Grigor Lousavorich Church, Tehran
82	Bishop	Aren	Shahinian	Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Argentina, St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
83	Rev. Father	Aristages	Shahmirian	St. Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran
84	Rev. Father	Sahak	Shakaryan	Tatev Monastery, Armenia
85	Rev. Father	Ardavazt	Sharoyan	Curator of the Cilicia Museum of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
86	Right Rev. Father	Karekin	Shekherdemian	Spiritual Dean, St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Willowdale, Ontario
87	V. Rev. Fr.	Barouyr	Shernezian	Dean of the Armenian Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of the Great See of Cilicia
88	Archpriest Fr.	Bedros	Shetilian	Pastor, St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, Indian Orchard, MA
89	Rev.Father	Shavarsh	Simonyan	Tavush Diocese, Dilijan, Armenia
90	Archpriest Fr.	Aram	Stepanian	Pastor Emeritus, St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, New Britain, CT
91	Archpriest Fr.	Daron	Stepanian	Pastor, St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church, Waukegan, IL, Visiting Pastor, St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church, Niagara Falls, NY
92	V. Rev. Father	Hrant	Tahanian	Pastor, St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown, MA
93	Archbishop	Anoushavan	Tanielian	Prelate of Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
94	Archbishop	Papken	Tcharian	St. Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church, Laval des Rapides, Quebec
95	V. Rev. Father	Avedik	Ter Karapetian	Supervisor of the Seminary of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia
96	Archpriest Fr.	Nareg	Terterian	Pastor, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Douglaston, NY
97	V. Rev. Fr.	Boghos	Tinkjian	Pastor, St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Philadelphia, PA
98	Pastor	Sebouh	Tokadjian	Visiting Clergy, St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church, Ontario L2S 2X9
99	V. Rev. Father	Machtoz	Zahterian	Patriarchal Assistant for the Armenian Catholic Parish in Budapest, Hungary
100	Bishop	Theodoros	Zakaryan	Chairman of the Executive Council of the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem