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The Holy Church of Nazareth, Calcutta.  Easter Day 1915.
Photograph: Reproduced courtesy of the Armenian Church, Kolkata, Very Rev. Father Oshagan Gulgulian, copyright: The Armenian Church, Kolkata

Jump to statistical snapshot of the Armenian community in Calcutta between 1811-1835
Jump to Armenian population count in Calcutta for 1814, 1815 and 1836
Jump to Armenian advocates of the Calcutta High Court 1855-1893

The first Armenian Church, a wooden structure was built by public contribution on 22nd June 1688 and was named St. John.  The East India Company for 7 years contributed £40/- per year towards the maintenance of a priest, this Church was destroyed by fire in 1707.  Three hundred years later in January 2008, a huge fire raged out of control for 5 days in Bura Bazaar very close to the current church and for many long hours the current priest, Father Oshagan Gulgulian along with the dedicated guardians of the church; the committee and wardens,  worried intently about the fire spreading to this, the Holy Church of Nazareth.  On the 5th day after the fire began, his prayers were answered and the fire was eventually put out and the church and the surrounding area was blessed and left unscathed.  It stood on the periphery of a fire ravaged scene standing tall and bright like a phoenix from a flame  Had the fire spread just a few hundred yards further, this church, due to celebrate it's 300th anniversary this year (2008), would also have been lost in the same fashion as the first church in 1707.  Thankfully, that tragedy was averted.

St. John's Church having been razed to the ground, The Holy Church of Nazareth was built seventeen years later in 1724 on the old burial ground of the Armenian community, by Agha Nazar and the architect was an Armenian from Iran named Mr. Levon Ghevond.  The belfry and steeple were added just 10 years later by Mr. Manual Hazarmalian in 1734.  Repaired and renovated in 1763 by Khojah Petrus Arratoon who also embellished the church and built two additional altars, one on the right hand side of the main altar, in memory of his brother Gorgin Khan, who was assassinated near Monghyr, and the other on the left side to commemorate his memory. In 1789 Agha Catchick Arakiel presented an English clock to the Church which he had ordered from the firm of Alexander Hare of London.  The clock arrived in Calcutta in 1792 and was fixed in the clock tower.  Also in 1789, he had the church compound enclosed by a substantial wall, which today is still standing as is the parsonage within the grounds.  Unfortunately, he did not see the installation of the clock as it was 2 years after Mr. Arakiel's death which occurred on the 25th July 1790.

On the south side of the Church can be seen the oldest Christian grave in Calcutta.  The inscription reads "This is the tomb of Reza Beebeh, wife of Charitable Sookias who died on 31st July 1630".  A little further from the south side of the church was Sookias Lane where the Sookias family lived. And today, the name Sookias is still very much associated with the Church by way of Mr. Haik Sookias Jr., who is the current Chairman of the Church Committee. A large number of prominent Armenians are buried in the churchyard.  Amongst them is a Mr. Shircore (in Persian the name means lion-eater).  It is recorded that he fought and killed a lion bare handed; but died of his wounds later. 

Within the compound of the church grounds was a well stocked library.  It was made over to the wardens and commissionaires of the Holy church of Nazareth for the perusal of the Reverend Priests in Calcutta in May 1896.

Over the years, the Church has been fortunate to have received many gifts and bequests, particularly in the 18th century.  Many others by their wills have left large sums, amongst whom was the late Sir Catchick Paul Chater of Hongkong.  He was born in Calcutta in September 1846, and died in Hongkong in May 1926.  By his will he left a very substantial sum of his enormous wealth to the Armenian Church.  One of the many ways in which his legacy has been utilised is by the building of an old peoples home for the Armenian community which was named the "Sir Paul Chater Home".  The foundation stone was laid by Mr. S.K. Sen, the Official Trustee of West Bengal on 21st November 1952.  More about Sir Catchick Paul Chater can be read here.

 

Click on the dancing skeleton to go to the Armenian Graves page

Date

1793-1797
1793-1802
1794-1795
1795-1813
1798-1802
1803-1807
1803-1804
1805-1808
1808-1813
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Name

Rev. Hacob Ter-Petrosian
Rev. Galstaun Martyrosian
Rev. Gevork Babanian
Rev. Hovsep Stephannosian
Rev. Martyrose Davidian
Rev. Lucas Ter-Gevorgian
Rev. Gabriel Ter-Stephannosian
Rev. Aviet Ter-Minasian
Rev. Harouthiun Ter-Minasian
Rev. Marcar Ter-Carapietian
Rev. Zakaria Ter-Prtrosian
Rev. Aviet Ter-Minasian
Rev. Lucas Ter-Gevorgian
Rev. Hovsep Stephannosian
Rev. Galoost Harouthiunian
Rev. Hovsep Ter-Mackertchian
Rev. Abraham Ter-Karapietian
Rev. Harouthiun Evasion
Rev. Catchatour Harouthiunian
Rev. Anton Avagian
Rev. Hovannes Galstanian
Rev. Hovannes Mackertchian
Rev. Harouthiun Eghiaian
Rev. Lazar Gregorian
Rev. Hovannes Ter-Avietian
Rev. Anton Avagian
Rev. David Mackertchian
Rev. Eliazar Andreasian
Rev. Carapiet Ter-Abrahamian
Rev. Abraham Ter-Carapietian
Rev. Harouthiun Ter-Eliazarian
Rev. Petrose Antonian
Rev. Carapiet Gregorian
Rev. Marcar Andreasian
Rev. Hovannes Khachikian (Vicar)
Rev. Mathevos Gregore Karibian
Rev. Barsiegh Galstanian (Archpriest)
Rev. Martyrose Ter-Hovakiemian
Rev. Mackertich Ter-C. Gregorian
Rev. Mackertich H. Ter-Lucasian
Rev. Hovannes Galstanian
Rev. Harouthiun Ter-S. Ter-Harouthiunian
Rev. Nicholaose Ter-H. Eghiaian (Archpriest)
Rev. Mackertich H.Ter-Lucasian (Archpriest)
Rev. Sylvester Hovhannesian
Rev. Galstaun Nazarethian
Rev. Aristakes Hovannesian
Rev. Dyonisius Ter-Eliazarian
Rev. Retevos Davidian
Rev. Ephiphan H. Gregorian
Rev. Nicholaose Ter-H. Eghiaian (Archpriest)
Rev. Aviet Astvatsatourian
Rev. Martyrose Ter-Hovakimian (Archpriest)

[this was the first ever visit by an Armenian Catholicos to Calcutta]

Name

Rev. Gregor Ter-Marcarian
Rev. Gasper Ter-Simonian
Rev. Nicholaose Ter-H. Eghiaian (Archpriest)
Rev. Gregor Ter-Harouthiunian
Rev. Barsegh Ter-Gevork Gasparian
Rev. Dyonisius Ter-Eliazarian
Rev. Minas Barseghian
Rev. Mackertich Petrosian
Rev. Martyrose G. Apcarian
Rev. Rethevos Davidian
Rev. Psack H.Hacobian
Rev. Galstaun Ter-Barseghian
Rev. Gregor Ter-Marcarian
Rev. Elisha H. Mackertoumian
Rev. Barsegh Ter-Gevork Gasparian
Rev. Sylvester Hovannesian
Rev. Psack Ter-Hacobian
Rev. Andrews G. Apcarian
Rev. Mesrobe C. Davidian
Rev. Barsiegh P. Alexy
Rev. Mackertich Petrosian
Rev. Essai Ter-S. Johannes
Rev. Carapiet Thoomikian
Rev. Psack H. Hacobian
Rev. Vardan S. Vardanian
Rev. Mashtotz Israelian
Rev. Sarkies Gregorian
Rev. Barsegh P. Alexy
Rev. Marcar C. Davidian
Rev. Garegin Johannes
Rev. Essai Ter-S. Johannes (Archpriest)
Rev. Carapiet Thoomikian
Rev. Vahan Aghanian
Rev. Nierses P. Paul
Rev. Garegin Johannes
Rev. Hambarzoom S. Vardanian
Rev. Carapiet Thoomikian
Rev. Essai Ter-S. Johannes
Rev. Vahan Aghanian
Rev. Nierses P. Paul
Rev. Hovakim Basis
Rev. Theodore Isaac (Archimandrite)
Rev. Vartannes Nazareth
Rev. Garegin Johannes
Rev. Nierses S. David
Rev. Hambardzoom S. Vardanian
Rev. Garegin Johannes
Rev. Vardan S. Vardanian
Rev. Hambardzoom S. Vardanian
Rev. Aramais Mirzaian
Rev. Avetice Edgarian
Rev. B.S. David
Rev. Pogose Petrossian
Rev. Kegham Zakarian
Poghose Aratoon (Deacon)
Sam Aviet (Deacon)
Marytrose Aivaz (Deacon)
Very Rev. Vazken Tatoyan
Rev. Hagop Guekchyan
Rev. Sarkis Tashchyan
Rev. Sahak Sahakyan
Very Rev. Ghevond Ghervondyan
Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian
Tigran Baghoumyan (Deacon)
Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian
Haroutyn Hambardzumyan (Deacon)
Rev. Avetis Hambardzumyan (ordained a Priest in Kolkata)
Very Rev. Khoren Hovhannisian

290