UK: Armenian bishop to take on Battersea half marathon

Armenian Bishop Hovakim Manukyan in training for the race

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

An Armenian Bishop is set to pound the streets of London in a sponsored run for Christians who suffer persecution around the world.

Bishop Hovakim Manukyan - Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the United Kingdom and Ireland - is hoping to raise £5,000 when he takes part in the Battersea Park Half Marathon on 14th November.

Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) - the charity he is raising funds for - Bishop Hovakim said his preparation for the 21 km (13.1 miles) course is off to a running start.

He said: "My training is already underway, and I have already completed a 15 km run from Kew Bridge to Hammersmith Bridge and back."

Bishop Hovakim is an experienced runner. His first major race was in 2024 when he completed the Windsor 5K before going on to tackle the Kingston Half Marathon - both for charity.

Nor will this be his first race of 2026. On 20th September he took part in a 10K run supporting a camp for displaced children from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in the Caucuses.

Talking about his next race, he said: "Now I am preparing for the Battersea Park Half Marathon in support of Aid to the Church in Need's #RedWednesday initiative" - which supports suffering Christians around the world.

He added: "As a bishop, I know that suffering is neither merely historical nor distant.

"Today many Christians suffer around the world… Yet we remain steadfast in prayer, truth and love, trusting that Christ strengthens His people.

Bishop Hovakim expressed his particular appreciation for ACN's support for communities in Armenia through the Armenian Catholic Church - which has shared roots with his own Armenian Apostolic Church.

He said: "As an Armenian Apostolic bishop, I see this as a meaningful expression of Christian solidarity across our traditions."

Bishop Hovakim told ACN that he took up running "for health reasons".

He said: "I was overweight and realised that I needed to make a change. I started by walking, then running short distances, gradually building up my strength and confidence. Clergy, too, need to look after their health."

He added: "Running has become much more than exercise for me. It is a kind of therapy and, often, a time of prayer.

"I am alone with my thoughts, with God and with the rhythm of my footsteps. The noise and demands of everyday life fall away for a while, creating space to reflect and simply be present."

Encouraging people to sponsor his run, he said: "Aid to the Church in Need does valuable work supporting vulnerable Christian communities and giving a voice to those who struggle to be heard.

"#RedWednesday reminds us that persecution is a present reality for many of our brothers and sisters. For me, this is deeply connected to our Christian calling. As St James teaches, faith without works is dead [James 2:26].

"From its earliest days, the Church has prayed, proclaimed the Gospel and offered practical help to those in need. Supporting this initiative is one way of putting that faith into action."

To sponsor Bishop Hovakim visit: https://acnuk.donorsupport.co/p2p/pages/NPJVTATV