PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: armenian@idx.com.au <mailto:armenian@idx.com.au>

4 August 2005

INVITATION TO ARMENIANS AROUND THE GLOBE TO JOIN IN THE 170TH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN SINGAPORE

Where Armenians settle, an Armenian Church is first to sprout. So it
was for the Armenian Community of Singapore in the early 19th century
when it built the very first Christian sanctuary in Singapore in 1835,
the Armenian Apostolic Church of St Gregory the Illuminator located
at 60 Hill Street, Singapore.

With fewer than 830 Armenians ever having lived in Singapore and
Malaysia, it is said that Armenians impacted the social, civic
and economic life of the early British trading settlements in both
countries. Author Nadia H. Wright explores the significant contribution
of Armenians in her book entitled “Respected Citizens: the History
of Armenians in Singapore and Malaysia” and traces the existence
of four Singaporean icons to Armenians: the Church of St Gregory,
the Raffles Hotel, the Straits Times newspaper and the “Vanda Miss
Joaquim” orchid ~ popularly known as the Singapore orchid that is
the national flower of Singapore.

To mark the 170th anniversary of Singapore’s Armenian Apostolic
Church of St Gregory the Illuminator, the Trustees of the Church and
Armenians living in Asia have planned a weekend of celebration from
11-13 November and extend an invitation to Armenians around the globe
to partake in this very special event.

With the fatherly blessing of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, the celebrations will be presided
by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand & Pontifical Legate
of India and the Far East.

A special website has been created to serve as a guide to the
celebrations in Singapore with information on the history of the
Church, program of planned events, recommended accommodation and
tours/excursions of Singapore and the surrounding region. The website
address is <;
and it is highly recommended the site be frequently visited for
updates and latest information on the celebratory events.

This will be an unsurpassable opportunity for Armenians all over
the world to gather and honour an international Armenian treasure, a
landmark of Singapore that is connected to our ancestral heritage and
to share a spirit of unity in Christian faith that has kept Armenians
bonded for more than 1700 years.

Questions and expressions of interest may be directed to
170years@armeniansinasia.org