3+ hour, 26+ min ago (283+ words) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation of the U.S. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on November 13. The delegation included David Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Jack Gerard, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy and First Counselor of the Europe Central Area Office, Miles Hansen, President and Board Director for the Stirling Foundation, and Paul Picard, a member of the Europe Central and Eurasian Quorum of the Seventy, Caliber.Az reports via local media. During the conversation, the sides fondly recalled the previous meetings between President Ilham Aliyev and the delegation of the U.S. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The delegates conveyed their congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev on the achievements attained in Washington regarding the advancement of the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, witnessed by…...

20+ hour, 33+ min ago (347+ words) News of Azerbaijan, Interviews, Analysis of Azerbaijan, Important News of Azerbaijan, News from Baku, Interviews with Azerbaijani Analysts, International Experts, Baku, Azerbaijan Armenian bishops renew call against Catholicos Garegin II A group of Armenian clergy aligned with the call by Nikol Pashinyan has issued a fresh statement denouncing Catholicos Garegin II. They lament that "in these days the Church, as a gathering of believers, is passing through difficult and restless times, and the arrogant and cynical glorification of sin by some seeks to drown out the inexorable demand for inevitable purification," Caliber.Az reports. The bishops argue that behind the clatter there lies a genuine opportunity for renewal " not destruction " stressing the "vital requirement" not to fragment, but to be united by the love of Christ. The statement echoes a previous call made on November 27, urging the cleansing of Etchmiadzin of…...

2+ day, 8+ hour ago (152+ words) Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has reportedly identified two preferred candidates to potentially succeed Catholicos Garegin II, signalling the government's intent to influence the leadership transition within the Armenian Church. Armenian newspaper Zhoghovurd says that the front-runners are Archbishop Hovnan Terteryan, the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, Caliber.Az reports. Authorities reportedly anticipate that both candidates would remain loyal, at least until the situation surrounding Garegin II's tenure becomes clearer. "The current government can ensure a new "open field' and a redistribution of influence within the Armenian Church after Karekin II's tenure ends," the report notes. Sources indicate that law enforcement agencies have begun individual "visits" to diocesan leaders, including those who signed'or chose not to sign'a statement discrediting the Catholicos, which…...

20+ hour, 33+ min ago (248+ words) A scheduled meeting of members of the Supreme Spiritual Council residing in Armenia was not held on November 28, the Etchmiadzin Patriarchate has confirmed. The meeting failed to convene due to the absence of several senior clerics, including Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan, Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, Bishop Vrtanes Abrahamyan, and Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media. A statement issued by the Patriarchate noted that the attendees who were present discussed a declaration dated November 27, signed by nine bishops. The Patriarchate said the declaration misrepresented the work of the commission appointed to address issues concerning Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan. According to the statement, the commission had not convened any meetings nor provided Archbishop Khachatryan an opportunity to be heard. Its findings, submitted to the Catholicos of All Armenians, were reportedly not properly formalised. The commission also did not request…...