In a sign of extraordinary Church-state tensions in Armenia, the head of Armenian Apostolic Church (CNEWA profile) and six other bishops are on trial for defying a court order to reinstate a deposed bishop.
Patriarch Garegin (Karekin) II has led the Church since 1999. The Armenian Apostolic Church is among the Oriental Orthodox churches that ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451).