The Hindu, India
March 3 2007
Armenian church to resume service
Susan Muthalaly
CHENNAI: The Armenian church on Armenian Street here will possibly
resume worship service by next year, after a decade-long interregnum.
The oldest surviving church of its kind in India is set to be
renovated and restored with an estimated Rs.1.5 crore grant from the
Armenian Church Trust in Kolkata, and guidance from the Indian
National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
The Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II,
from the Holy Etchmiadzin , on a personal visit to India, dropped by
on Friday, and expressed his desire to restart the service.
The Armenians were once a rich community that made significant
contributions, economic and cultural, to the city. Now there are only
275 registered Armenians in India.
They originate from the southwest Asian country of Armenia.
The Catholicos suggested that students from the Armenian College and
Philanthropic Academy, Kolkata, be distributed across the country
once they finished their studies.
Photo: AWAITING RENOVATION: The Armenian Church at Parrys Corner in
north Chennai.
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