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The Armenian church in Dhaka does not serve as a priest, and there are no believers to pray, so there is only one resident of the parish: a Hindu caretaker.
Since there are no priests to serve and no believers to pray, an Armenian church in Bangladesh has only the last parishioner: a Hindu caretaker who performs his “sacred duty” to protect the remains of the city’s former business elite.
Shankar Ghosh made a cross sign before opening the entrance to this striking white and yellow building built in the capital Dhaka 240 years ago.
At the time, the city was home to hundreds of Armenians whose origins can be traced back to the 16th century and eventually became famous merchants, lawyers and public officials.
The last known descendant of the community left Bangladesh a few years ago, but before that, he entrusted the Armenian Holy Resurrection Apostle Church to Ghosh, who has lived on his land for half his life.
“I like this job. I think it is a sacred duty given to me,” the 61-year-old told AFP. “Whether it is a church, temple or mosque, I believe that everything is for one God.”
In this photo taken on February 11, 2021, Ghosh poses for a photo in front of a church in Dhaka [Rehman Asad/AFP]
About 40 years ago, Ghosh worked in a jute factory, an industry owned by many Armenians in the region, where he established friendships with the family who ran the factory.
Through them, he met Michael Joseph Martin, the custodian of the church, who invited Ghosh to serve as his assistant. The young man moved into the church compound in 1985 and has never left since.
“This is God’s home, and I think there is no other job that suits me better,” Ghosh said.
His 30-year-old son was born in the compound and serves as the resident historian of the compound.
When Martin moved to Canada in 2014, he handed the keys to the church to his disciples.
Last year, after Martin died at the age of 89, Ghosh became a full-time guardian. He is now supported by Armenians overseas, led by a businessman Armenian based in Los Angeles, who maintains the functioning of the church.
“The Ghosh family has a special place in our church,” Alslannian told AFP.
In this photo taken on February 11, 2021, people visit the Armenian church in Dhaka [Rehman Asad/AFP]
In the church grounds, the noise of traffic horns gradually disappeared, and the song of birds rose from a small garden. Young people and students gather under the trees in the garden and share quiet moments in the shade.
Every morning, Ghosh would come out of the courtyard where he lived with his wife and two children, open the door of the church, and light candles on the altar.
He offered non-denominational prayers for 400 Armenians-once an outstanding member of the Dhaka community, he is now buried under neat rows of tombstones next to the building.
Several assistants helped him maintain the church and feed the six stray dogs living on the grounds.
For decades, the church has not held baptisms or weekly mass.
However, every Easter and Christmas, the church becomes lifelike when a Catholic priest holds a service attended by the ambassador to Dhaka.
Ghosh often wanders around the tombstone, the earliest tombstone can be traced back to 1714, which is a few decades before the church was built.
In 2005, flowers were laid on the grave of Martin’s late wife Veronica-the last Armenian was buried in the compound-Ghosh hoped that her husband’s body would be brought back to Dhaka.
“He belongs to this beautiful place,” he said, adding that he also hopes to be buried in this land after death.
“I only pray that I will receive treatment similar to what I have always provided to these (graves).”
