Archbishop Axios of Podolsk and Lyubertsy, interim administrator of the Yerevan-Armenian Diocese, paid an archpastoral visit to Armenia from September 12 to 14, 2026.
On September 12, a meeting of the Diocesan Council was held in the Church of the Intercession of Yerevan under the chairmanship of Bishop Axius. The meeting was attended by Archpriest Arseniy Grigoryants, Secretary of the Yerevan Diocesan Administration, Archpriest Vladimir Glazachev, cleric of the Church of the Intercession, and Priest Andrey Galoyan, responsible for youth work.
Opening the meeting, Archbishop Axius addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. The meeting participants discussed current issues of diocesan life and work plans for the coming period.
On the same day, His Eminence tonsured Nun Augusta (Avetisyan) in the Assumption Church of the women's monastic community of Yerevan. The newly tonsured was named Alexandra, in honor of the holy Prince Alexander Nevsky. The archpastor parted words to Nun Alexandra, wishing her God's unending help, patience, zeal for the Lord and firmness in carrying out the monastic feat.
On September 13, Archbishop Axius celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vanadzor. His Eminence was co-served by Priest Konstantin Semenov, Secretary of the Podolsk diocesan administration, Hieromonk Galaktion (Janjugazyan), rector of the church, and Deacon Vitaly Lebedevich, cleric of the Podolsk Diocese.
During the divine service, Hieromonk Galaktion was awarded the right to wear a loincloth. At the end of the Liturgy, Bishop Axius addressed the faithful with an archpastoral address.
Then the chairman of the Association of Armenian Lawyers, Sh. T. Petrosyan, and his deputy, A. R. Martirosyan, donated to the temple an icon of the Holy Martyr Alexandra of Rome with a fragment of her relics.
During the conversation with the rector of the church, Archbishop Axius discussed issues of liturgical and economic activities and got acquainted with the life of the parish.
On September 14, Archbishop Axius met with Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The meeting was also attended by Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the Department of External Relations and Protocol of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archimandrite Garegin Ambartsumyan, Director of the Department of Inter-Church Relations, and Priest Konstantin Semenov, Secretary of the Podolsk Diocesan Administration.
The parties discussed the development of cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as other issues of mutual interest. Archbishop Axius congratulated Catholicos Garegin II on his jubilee. At the end of the meeting, memorable gifts were exchanged.