Fresno Bee, CA
April 9 2010

Fowler Armenian church to celebrate 100th year

Posted at 11:50 AM on Friday, Apr. 09, 2010
By Ron Orozco / The Fresno Bee

A Fowler church with deep Armenian roots is reaching a milestone this weekend.

St. Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, built by
immigrant Armenians who settled on farms and in the small towns south
of Fresno, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a special event,
`A Century of Worship: Generations of Christian Faith.’

Archbishop Hovan Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church of North America, based in Burbank, will celebrate divine
liturgy at 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, 229 S. Third St. After
service ends, the church will hold a gala banquet at 1 p.m. at the
Fresno Convention Center New Exhibit Hall, 848 M St.

Dr. Garo H. Armen, CEO of the biotechnology company Antigenics Inc.
and founder of the Children of Armenia Fund, will be the keynote
speaker at the banquet.

Consecrated on April 11, 1910, the Fowler church became the hub of a
religious and social community that was determined to keep the
traditions of the Armenian Orthodox faith. That same year, it became
the fourth Armenian Apostolic Church in America, under the
jurisdiction of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North
America.

The congregation currently has more than 500 members. Original
families came from Selma, Kingsburg, Fowler and Sanger.

`Many are descendents of Armenians who fled the Armenian massacre,’
says the Rev. Yeghia Hairabedian, the parish priest since 2005. `So
their whole life centered around the church, which gave them a sense
of security.’

Hairabedian says he enjoys the closeness of the congregation. `Many
are related,’ he says. `They’ve known each other a long time.

Details: (559) 834-2919

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