Armenians in Calcutta – Holy Nazareth

List of Priests who have served at the Armenian Church, Calcutta

Early Armenian community statistics between 1811-1835

List of Armenian Advocates in of the Calcutta High Court, India 1855-1893

Benefactors who have donated to the Armenian Church, Calcutta

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 a past 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.

 

 

List of names of benefactors who left large bequests to the Armenian Church, Calcutta
Sir Catchick Paul Chater	Mr. T.M. Thaddeus	Mrs Sarah Chater
Mr. Z.T. Manuk	John Michael and Wife Mary	Miss Maryn and Miss Mary Gregory Apcar
Mr. Nicholas Mackertich Carapiet	Mrs. Helen Moses	Miss L.M. Christian
Mr. Arratoon Galoost	Mrs. C. Lumbrugen	Mr. Joseph Ephraim
Mr. Thomas Seth Apcar	Col. S.T. Avetoom	Dr. S.J. Manuk [Manook]
Joseph Paul	Miss Amy Apcar	Arratoon Petrus
Petrus Stephen	Arratoon Apcar Senior and Gregory Apcar Senior	Seth Arratoon Apcar
A.S. Mackertich	A.G. Apcar	Massey Babjab
Gevork Manuk	Anna Iscar Zorab

Below is a register of names of officiating Pastors and Priests of the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth, Calcutta, from 1793 – 1957

Date	Name	Date	Name
1755	Padre Daniel*	1893-1897	Rev. Sylvester Hovannesian
1779	Padre Dionysius Manasser**	1892-1895	Rev. Rethevos Davidian
1793	Carapiet Margar***	1894-1899	Rev/ {sacl Ter Hacobian
1793-1797	Rev. Hacob Ter Petrosian	1896-1900	Rev. Andrews G. Apcarian
1793-1802	Rev. Galstaun Martyrosian	1898-1901	Rev. Mesrobe C. Davidian
1794-1795	Rev. Gevork Babanian	1899-1903	Rev. Barsiegh P. Alexy
1795-1813	Rev. Hovsep Stephannosian	1900-1904	Rev. Mackertich Petrosian
1798-1802	Rev. Martyrose Davidian	1902-1905	Rev. Essai Ter S Johannes
1803-1807	Rev. Lucas Ter Gevorgian	1903-1907	Rev. Carapiet Thoomikian
1803-1804	Rev. Gabriel Ter Stephannosian	1904-1907	Rev. Psack H. Hacobian
1805-1808	Rev. Aviet Ter Minasian	1907-1912	Rev. Vardan S. Vardanian
1808-1813	Rev. Harouthiun Ter Minasian	1907-1910	Rev. Mashtotz Israelian
1808-1813	Rev. Marcar Ter Carapietian	1908-1911	Rev. Sarkies Gregorian
1812-1814	Rev. Zakaria Ter Petrosian	1912-1920	Rev. Barsegh P. Alexy
1814-1821	Rev. Aviet Ter Minasian	1912-1917	Rev. Marcar C. Davidian
1814-1822	Rev. Lucas Ter Gevorgian	1913-1917	Rev. Garegin Johannes
1821-1828	Rev. Hovsep Stephannosian	1917-1922	Rev. Essai Ter S. Johannes (Archpriest)
1821-1826	Rev. Galoost Harouthiunian	1917-1922	Rev. Carapiet Thoomikian
1822-1826	Rev. Hovsep Ter Mackertchian	1920-1926	Rev. Vahan Aghanian
1825-1829	Rev. Abraham Ter Karapietian	1922-1927	Rev. Nierses P. Paul
1826-1827	Rev. Harouthiun Ayvazian	1923-1927	Rev. Garegin Johannes
1826-1827	Rev. Catchatour Harouthiunian	1926-1929	Rev. Hambardzoom S. Vardanian
1826-1831	Rev. Anton Avagian	1927-1930	Rev. Carapiet Thoomikian
1826-1830	Rev. Hovannes Galstanian	1927-1929	Rev. Essai Ter S. Johannes
1827-1828	Rev. Hovannes Mackertchian	1929-1933	Rev. Vahan Aghanian
1830-1834	Rev. Harouthiun Eghiaian	1929-1933	Rev. Nierses P. Paul
1831-1836	Rev. Lazar Gregorian	1930-1933	Rev. Hovakim Basis
1831-1837	Rev. Hovannes Ter Avietian	1933-1935	Rev. Theodore Isaac (Archimandrite)
1836-1840	Rev. Anton Avagian	1933-1936	Rev. Vartannes Nazareth
1837-1842	Rev. David Mackertchian	1933-1936	Rev. Garegin Johannes
1838-1841	Rev. Eliazar Andreasian	1936-1942	Rev. Nierses S. David
1841-1845	Rev. Carapiet Ter Abrahamian	1936-1940	Rev. Hambardzoom S. Vardanian
1842-1843	Rev. Abraham Ter Carapietian	1940-1944	Rev. Garegin Johannes
1842-1844	Rev. Harouthiun Ter Eliazarian	1942-1949	Rev. Vardan S. Vardanian
1843-1846	Rev. Petrose Antonian	1944-1947	Rev. Hambardzoom S. Vardanian
1844-1847	Rev. Carapiet Gregorian	1948-1958	Rev. Aramais Mirzaian
1844-1847	Rev. Marcar Andreasian	1948-1953	Rev. Avetice Edgarian
1844-1872	Rev. Hovannes Khachikian (Vicar)	1953-1956	Rev. B.S. David
1845-1846	Rev. Mathevos Gregore Karibian	1957	Rev. Pogose Petrossian
1846-1849	Rev. Barsiegh Galstanian (Archpriest)	1957-1962	Bishop Asoghik Ghazarian
1846-1849	Rev. Martyrose Ter Hovakiemian	1961	Archbishop Haikazoon Abrahamian
1850-1856	Rev. Mackertich Ter C. Gregorian	1964	Archbishop Haikazoon Abrahamian
1850-1856	Rev. Mackertich H Ter Lucasian	1964-1968	Rev. Vazken Stepanian (Priest at Bombay)
1852-1854	Rev. Hovannes Galstanian	1964-1970	Rev. Fr. Kegham Zakarian
1856-1860	Rev. Harouthiun Ter S. Ter Harouthiunian	1966	Archbishop Haikazoon Abrahamian
1856-1860	Rev. Nicholaose Ter H Eghiaian (Archpriest)	1967-1968	Archbishop Haikazoon Abrahamian
1860-1863	Rev. Mackertich H. Ter Lucasian (Archpriest)	1968-1972	Archbishop Haikazoon Abrahamian
1861-1863	Rev. Sylvester Hovhannesian	1968-1974	Rev. Fr. Vazken Stephanian
1863-1865	Rev. Galstaun Nazarethian	1968	Mario Stepanian (Deacon)
1863-1867	Rev. Dyonisius Ter Eliazarian	1969	Phoghose Aratoon (Deacon)
1863-1866	Rev. Aristakes Hovannesian	1969	Sam Aviet (Deacon)
1866-1868	Rev. Retevos Davidian	1969-1970	Martyrose Aivaz (Deacon)
1866-1869	Rev. Ephiphan H. Gregorian	1972	Archbishop Haikazoon Abrahamian
1866-1869	Rev. Nicholaose Ter H. Eghiaian (Archpriest)	1972	Bishop Vahan Terian
1869-1872	Rev. Aviet Astvatsatourian	1973-1974	Very Rev. Fr. Hair Woskan Kalpakian
1870-1873	Rev. Martyrose Ter Hovakimian (Archpriest)	1974-1981	Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Tatoyan
1870-1873	Rev. Gregor Ter Marcarian	1982-1984	Rev. Fr. Hagop Guekchian
1874-1876	Rev. Nicholaose Ter H Eghiaian (Archpriest)	1985-2000	Anthony Galstaun (Deacon)
1872-1875	Rev. Gasper Ter Simonian	2000-2003	Rev. Fr. Sahak Sahakyan
1874-1875	Rev. Gregor Ter Harouthiunian	2003-2004	Very Rev. Fr. Ghevond Ghervondyan
1875-1877	Rev. Barsgh Ter Gevork Gasparian	2005-2007	Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian
1875-1878	Rev. Dyonisius Ter Eliazarian	2005-2009	Tigran Baghoumyan (Deacon)
1877-1881	Rev. Minas Barseghian	2007-2008	Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian
1878-1882	Rev. Mackertich Petrosian	2008-2009	Haroutyn Hambardzumyan (Deacon. Became Rev. Fr. Avetis below)
1880-1884	Rev. Martyrose G. Apcarian	2009-2010	Rev. Fr. Avetis Hambardzumyan (ordained a Priest in Kolkata)
1882-1885	Rev. Mesrobe C. Davidian	2010-2013	Very Rev. Fr. Khoren Hovhannisian (defrocked in 2002, refrocked 2009, defrocked again 2017)
1883-1885	Rev. Rethevos Davidian	2010-2010	Very Rev. Ignatious Malkhasyan
1885-1888	Rev. Psack H. Hacobian	2010-2015	Rev. Fr. Geghard Ghabaghyan
1885-1892	rev. Gregor Ter Marcarian	2010-2011	Samvel Harutiunian (Deacon)
1885-1889	Rev. Galstaun Ter Barseghian	2013-2016	Ver Rev. Fr. Zaven Yakichyan
1886-1891	Rev.Elisha H. Mackertoumian	2013-2015	Rev. Fr. Arsen Saroyan
1889-1893	Rev. Barsegh Ter Gevork Gasparian	2016-2021	Rev. Fr. Movses Sargsyan
		2016	Varazdat Kocharyan (Deacon)

* Padre Daniel was an Armenian priest at the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth in 1755, details extracted from the Will of Catchick Coja Maul dated 17th November 1755.

** Padre Dionysius Manasser was an Armenian priest in Calcutta in 1779, details extracted from his Will dated 2nd February 1779, Calcutta.

*** Carapiet Margar was an Armenian priest at the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth in 1793, details extracted from the marriage register entries for 1793.

 

My thanks to Mario Stepanian, son of Rev. Vazken Stepanian for assistance with information and dates in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Also Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Yakichyan for updating the list in February 2014

Armenian population snapshot below.

	1814	1815	1836
Male	269	272	290	For 1836 the adults of all ages were 313 and children 192.  The number of houses in which the 505 people resided were 101
Female	195	208	215
Total	464	480	505

 

Year	Births	Marriages	Deaths
1811	10	7	12
1812	8	2	12
1813	8	4	14
1814	13	5	21
1815	9	4	21
1816	11	7	15
1817	11	3	20
1819	5	1	23
1820	11	5	17
1821	16	4	16
1822	12	5	16
1823	8	2	10
1824	7	6	21
1825	15	5	19
1826	8	3	19
1827	18	5	15
1829	12	4	15
1830	9	4	14
1831	19	3	17
1832	13	2	17
1833	13	3	23
1834	9	7	16
1835	19	4	7
Total	280	99	395

 

An early statistical snapshot of the Armenian community in Calcutta gives you an idea of the thriving community. The Births, Marriages and Deaths of the Armenian population of Calcutta for a 25year period from 1811 to 1835 inclusive.*

 

Armenian population count in Calcutta for the years*

 

*Taken from “Statistics of the Colonies of the British Empire 1839, From the Official Records of the Colonial Office”
By Robert Montgomery Martin.

Armenian Advocates of the Calcutta High Court from 1855-1893