Since the headquarters of his rival, the pro-Persian Catholicos Moses II (574–604) was located in Dvin, newly elected pro-Byzantine Catholicos John decided to place his headquarters in Byzantine controlled Avan.
Hans rivals, den pro-persiska katholikos Moses II (574–604), högkvarter låg i Dvin, och den nyvalde pro-bysantinska katholikos Johannes beslöt att lägga sitt högkvarter i det bysantinskt kontrollerade Avan.