The Armenian Apostolic Church’s Supreme Spiritual Council today announced that its Artsakh Diocese will continue to maintain its status and act according to church-canonical principles even though only a handful of Armenians remain in the region.

The Council stressed the necessity of recording encroachments on Armenian monuments, sanctuaries and cemeteries in Artsakh and that all cases be reported to international, inter-church and inter-religious bodies.

The Council also emphasized the vital need to protect the rights of forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians and for the church to provide them with spiritual, humanitarian and psychological support programs.