THE BELLS OF ST. ASTVATZATZIN: NO ARMENIANS LEFT IN MADRAS TO HEAR THEM RING

2010/03 /22 | 16:10

Church and belfry testament to a proud past long gone

The Holy Mother of God Armenian Church, one of the oldest Christian
structures in all of India and the Far East is located in Chennai
(formerly Madras). It was built in 1772 on the grounds an ancient
Armenian cemetery that later became the private property of the
Shahamirian family.

The church replaced an Armenian chapel that had been built in 1712
that was destroyed in the 1746 British-French colonial war. There
are two dates inscribed at the church entrance – 1772 1nd 1712. The
new construction was financed by Shahamir Shahamirian (Sultanumian)
in memory of his wife who had died at an early age.

St. Astvatzatzin (Holy Mother of God) is a testament to the glorious
history of Armenians in Madras. One can say that the entire legacy of
Armenian Madras, that had become the foundry of the new liberation
thought of the times, has been stored under the arches of this
magnificent church.

St. Astvatzatzin is resting place for many historic figures

The white-plastered church is located on a street where the noted
merchants Shahamir Shahamirian, Samuel Moorat, the Gregory Brothers,
Seth Sam returned after their long and arduous journeys and found
eternal rest.

This is where the Madras Group was formed. Its members, including
Movses Baghramian, Shahamir Shahamirian and Joseph Emin, soared no
efforts to inculcate Armenian youth with ideals of enlightenment and
progressive thought.

Under these arches, every Sunday for forty consecutive years, Father
Harutiun Shmavonian, publisher of the first Armenian periodical
"Azdarar" (Monitor), offered the Holy Liturgy.

At least two Armenian printing presses were started here in Madras,
and an Armenian school. Many of the notable members of the Madras
Armenian community were laid to rest here. No wonder the street is
named "Armenian Street".

Time has marched on and there are no longer any Armenians in Madras.

But the walled Armenian Church, symbolizing their eternal glory rises
proudly on a hill top. At first glance, it is hardly noticeable.

When bells ring locals know an Armenian has returned

The commercial shopkeepers that line the street know precious little
about the church. But they are aware that it’s the oldest Christian
cathedral in the district.

Few also know that the unique and valuable examples of the first
Christian bells forged rest here in the church, in the three story
bell tower that rises apart from the church.

The belfry’s three pair of enormous bells called the faithful to
church for many decades. Sadly, now the bells are not rung every
Sunday. When the peeling of the bells is heard, residents in the
vicinity of Armenian Street know that an Armenian has come to the
church. Most Armenian visitors today come from Calcutta. The bulk
of Madras Armenians relocated to Calcutta in the latter half of the
19th century.

Each pilgrim that visits the Armenian church climbs the tower to see
the bells and to capture the moment. All three pairs of bells bear
dates. Each weighs 150 kilos. The oldest was forged in 1754.

Armenian church bells bear proud legacy

This bell has an Armenian inscription that was added in 1808 at the
district’s famous "Aroulapan" foundry. The next bell was forged in
1778 and the other two in 1790. They were donated by Agha Shahamir
Shahamirian in memory of his son Eliazar Shahamirian who died at the
tender age of nineteen. The last pair of bells is the most valuable,
having been forged in 1837 with the inscription, "Thomas Mears,
Founder, London". This signifies that the bells were built at the
prominent Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. This foundry entered
the Guinness Book of records as the oldest manufacturing concern in
Great Britain. It mostly produces bells for use in churches.

The foundry has been operating since 1420. Traditionally, the name
of the chief craftsman of the period would be engraved on the bells
produced. From the 19th century up till 1968, all the finished
products, including the bells of St. Astvatzatzin, have carried the
moniker of "Mears & Stainbank"

The oldest bell forged at this foundry is kept in London. It has the
dubious distinction of being the world’s oldest. The next bell with the
oldest inscription is the famous Philadelphia Liberty Bell, dated 1752.

The Liberty Bell epitomizes the American War of Independence from
Britain. Tradition has it that the bell signaled the signing of the
American Declaration of Independence in 1776. Every year, thousands
of visitors flock to Philadelphia to gaze at this historic and
valuable bell.

Perhaps the most famous bell produced at this foundry is the one that
rings in the Big Ben clock tower in London’s Westminster Palace.

Forged in 1858, it is the biggest bell ever forged with a height of
2.2 meters and a width of 2.9. It weighs in at an astounding 13 tons.

Other famous bells to come out of the Whitechapel Foundry are those at
the Liverpool Mother Cathedral, London’s St Mary le Bow Church and the
bells at Westminster Abbey. Includes in this list of ancient bells are
two of the six bells found in the St. Astvatzatzin Church in Madras.

While it’s nearly impossible to state with any certainty that purchased
the bells for the church, by the application of a bit of deduction
and cross-referencing of the dates on the bells with the wealthiest
Armenians in Madras at the time, we can speculate that it was either
the Gregory Brothers or Seth Sam. It’s less likely that the Moorat
Family purchased the bells since they adhered to the Roman Catholic
Church.

Naturally, these bells symbolize the dedication of the Armenians
of Madras to the Armenian Apostolic Church. On the other hand, they
also reflect the wealth and prosperity that the community possessed
at the time.

This short narrative allows us to delve, albeit briefly, into the
life and times of the Madras Armenian community.

The English historian J. Hanvey, discussing the Armenian merchants
of Madras during the 18th century, notes that, "Armenians were
successfully trading with Russia as well as with England. With their
capital and contacts they held their own against the likes of English,
Russian and Dutch traders.

We thus see that at the dawn of the 19th century, Armenian merchants,
with their financial resources and prowess, were still giving the
British East-Indian company a run for the money.

It is likely that with such investments in English manufacturing,
the Armenians of Madras were aiming to preserve their influence in
British controlled India.

Hermineh Adamyan Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy Calcutta
(Kolkata), India