A centuries-old church revived its service on Sunday.
What’s it about? A 251-year-old Armenian church offered its first service in three years at 10 am on February 5. The opening caused a stir in the extended Armenian community of southern India, with Armenians from Bengaluru coming in to attend the service.
- The service was held in memoriam of Reverend Harutyun Shamvonyan, the father of Armenian journalism, who had died on February 9, 1824.
- Reverand Father Dajad Tsaturyan, pastor of Armenians in India and manager of Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy, Kolkata, will conduct the church service in Armenian.
History: Constructed in 1772, the church is known for its belfry, where each bell weighs 150 kg. Adjoining it is a churchyard where nearly 350 Armenians were put to rest. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the area had a teeming Armenian community. Today, there are only 5 Armenian residents in the city.
(Image credits: Svs99n, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
