Coordinates: 13°05′21″N 80°17′14″E / 13.0891°N 80.2873°E / 13.0891; 80.2873
The Armenian Church, Chennai, constructed in 1712 [1]and reconstructed in 1772, is one of the oldest churches of the Indian subcontinent. It is famous for its belfry of six. The Church, also called the Armenian Church of Virgin Mary, is located on the Armenian Street, Chennai, South India.
Altar Armenian Church Madras
Michael Stephen was the caretaker of the Church until 2004. [2] The current caretaker (2010) of the Church is Trevor Alexander. [3]
[edit] The Church
- Functioning only as a heritage site, the Church is opened for visitors from 9 am till 2:30 pm.
- It is funded by the Armenian Apostolic Church[4] and maintained by The Armenian Church Committee in Calcutta.
- The graves of about 350 Armenians have been laid out throughout the Church.
- The founder, publisher and editor of the world's first Armenian periodical "Azdarar", Reverend Haroutiun Shmavonian, is buried here.
- The Belfry adjacent to the main Church structure houses six large bells which are rung every Sunday at 9:30 am by the caretaker.
BelfryArmenianChurchMadras
BellsArmenianChurchMadras
The six bells are all of different sizes, varying from 21 to 26 inches, and weigh around 150 kg each, They are believed to be the largest and heaviest bells of Chennai. The bells were cast at different times as noted below:
- One bell, with Armenian inscription dates to 1754. This was recast in 1808 and also bears Tamil inscription.
- One bell’s inscription indicates that it dates to 1778.
- Inscriptions on two bells indicate that they were given to the Church in memory of 19 year Eliazar Shawmier, buried in the Church’s garden. Shawmier was the youngest son of a leading Armenian merchant of the city of Madras (now Chennai) on whose private chapel ground the present Church stands.
- The remaining two bells date to 1837 and were cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, then known as Mears & Stainbank, with inscriptions reading "Thomas Mears, Founder, London".
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
v · d · e
 Contemporary Armenian Churches and Seminaries  |
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| Armenia |
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| Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) |
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| France |
Île-de-France: St. Jean-Baptiste Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Paris · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Chaville · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Issy-les-Moulineaux · St. Paul and St. Peter Church, Alfortville · Holy Cross of Varak Armenian Church, Arnouville-Lès-Gonesse · Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Cathedral, Paris · St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, Arnouville-Lès-Gonesse ·
Rhône-Alpes: St. Jack Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Lyon · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Décines · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, St. Etienne · Saint Neshan Church, Charvieu-Chavagneux · Saint Sahak Church, Valence · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Valence · Armenian Apostolic Church, Grenoble · St. Nicolas Church, Romans · Armenian Apostolic Church, Vienne · Armenian Catholic Church, Lyon · Armenian Catholic Church, Valence · St. Nerses Armenian Catholic Church, Saint Chamond ·
Marseille and Southern France: St. Mesrob and St. Sahak Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Marseille · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Marseille · St. Garabed Church, Marseille · St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew Chruch, Marseille · St. Jack Church, Marseille · Holy Savior Armenian Apostolic Church, La Ciotat · Holy Mother of God Armenian Apostolic Church, Nice · St. John Armenian Church, Saint-Raphaë · St. Vartan Armenian Church, Avignon · St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, Marseille
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| Turkey |
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| Georgia |
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| Lebanon |
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia · Armenian Catholic Patriarchate ·
Beirut: Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, Beirut · Holy Cross (St. Neshan) Church, Beirut Central District · St. Elie - St. Krikor Lousavoritch Cathedral, Beirut · Saint George Armenian Apostolic Church, Beirut · Saint Hagop Church, Beirut · Saint Sarkis Church, Beirut · Armenian Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Beirut · Armenian Catholic Church of the Annunciation , Beirut ·
Bourj Hammoud: The Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia, Bourj Hammoud · St. Mesrob Church, Bourj Hammoud · Holy Mother of God Armenian Church, Bourj Hammoud · St. Saviour Armenian Catholic Church, Bourj Hammoud · St. Savior Armenian Catholic Church, Bourj Hammoud
Bikfaya: Armenian Apostolic Seminary at Bikfaya · Convent Of Mekhitarist Fathers, Bikfaya ·
Anjar: St. Paul Church, Anjar · Our Lady of the Rosary Armenian Catholic Church, Anjar ·
Others: Our Lady Convent Of Bzoummar · Holy Cross Church, Zalka · St. Rita Church, Mezher · Holy Pentecost Armenian Apostolic Church, Tripoli · Our Lady of Fatima Armenian Catholic Church, Zahle ·
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| Syria |
Aleppo: Church of the Holy Mother of God · Cathedral of the forty martyrs of Sebastia · St. Hagop Church · St. Gregory the Illuminator Church · Holy Trinity Church · Holy Cross Church · Church of Our Lady of Annunciation · Cathedral of Our Mother of Reliefs · Damascus: St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Damascus · Our Lady of the Universe Armenian Catholic Church, Damascus · Latakia: St. Hripsime Church, Yacoubieh · St. Anna Church, Yacoubieh · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Kesab · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Latakia · Church of the Holy Mother of God, Karadouran · Armenian Church, Ekizoluk · St. Stephen Church,Aramo · St. George Church, Ghnemiyeh · Our Lady of the Assumption, Kesab · Deir ez-Zor: Armenian Genocide Memorial Church (Der Zor) · Ar-Raqqah: Church of the Holy Mother of God, Ar-Raqqah · Holy Cross Church, Abyad · Al-Hasakah: Church of the Holy Mother of God, Al-Malikiyah · Holy Cross Mother of God Church, Ra's al-'Ayn · Saint John the Baptist Church, Al-Hasakah · Saint Joseph Armenian Catholic Church, Al-Qamishli · Holy Family Church, Al-Hasakah
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