Armenian church to resume service in Chennai (Madras)

By 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

 

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.