Armenian Church, George Town – History
Armenia was the first country in the world that adopted
Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD. There are churches from fourth
century AD in Armenia. The presence of the Armenians in Madras can be traced
all the way back to 1512. There are records of Armenians informing the
Portuguese of the grave of St Thomas that was found in Madras.
The most famous Armenian in Madras was Coja Petrus
Uscan, who is remembered for constructing or donating to the many remaining
Armenian relics in the city. He was the heir of a family that had trade
relations with the East for generations. But he settled in Madras only in 1723,
on his return from Manila. A philanthropist, he contributed to several
religious institutions in Madras.
There’s also the story of Coja Petrus Uscan draping
the Armenian Street in silk to welcome the Nawabs of Carnatic when they visited
Madras. Petrus Uscan built the first bridge across the Adyar River in
1728, the Marmalong Bridge – now the Marai Malai Adigal Bridge in Saidapet –
and also the steps leading to the shrine atop St Thomas Mount.
It is believed that Armenians came to Chennai city in the 16th century CE for the
purpose of trade and they settled down in the city slowly. The Armenian church
or the Church of Virgin Mary was constructed by the
Armenian community. The Armenians were once a rich community that made
significant contributions, economic and cultural, to the Chennai city. Now
there are only 275 registered Armenians in India. Michael Stephen was the
caretaker of the Church until 2004; as of 2010 the caretaker of the
Church was Trevor Alexander.
The first Armenian Church in Chennai was built in 1712
in the Esplanade of the city. The second Armenian church, dedicated to the Holy
Virgin Mary was built in 1772 at the site of the old Armenian burial ground on
which stood a chapel where services were conducted, while the present church
was being built. The ground belonged to Agah Shameer.
The first church was built of timber in the present High
Court area with permission from the East India Company. The Armenians were
given 50 pounds to manage the expenses of the church. This encouraged more traders
to settle in and around the area. Vestiges of Old Madras by H.D. Love
points out that the earliest Armenian church, situated in Old Black Town, as
shown in Thomas Pitt’s map, was probably built shortly after the Company
entered into a covenant with the Armenian residents in India.
The new church, however, was consecrated in Aga
Shawmier’s chapel grounds in George Town. The street on which the church is
situated continues to be called the Armenian Street, where the settlers once
lived. The first Armenian journal, Azdarar, was published here in Madras in
1794 by Rev. Haruthiun Shmavonian. There’s still a copy of it preserved in
Armenia today. There’s also the hand-embroidered altar curtain that was
presented by the Madras Armenians around 1780, which is still intact and
used during the services in the Etchmiadzin Cathedral (holy cathedral) in
Armenia.
The first draft constitution for Armenia was also put
together here around 1780s. In April 1904 Mesrovb Seth paid his first visit to
the church. In November 9, 2008 His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, reconsecrated the church.