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The Bells Of St. Astvatzatzin: No Armenians Left In Madras To Hear T

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  • The Bells Of St. Astvatzatzin: No Armenians Left In Madras To Hear T

    THE BELLS OF ST. ASTVATZATZIN: NO ARMENIANS LEFT IN MADRAS TO HEAR THEM RING

    http://hetq.am/en/diaspora/madras-4/
    2010/03 /22 | 16:10

    Church and belfry testament to a proud past long gone

    The Holy Mother of God Armenian Church, one of the oldest Christian
    structures in all of India and the Far East is located in Chennai
    (formerly Madras). It was built in 1772 on the grounds an ancient
    Armenian cemetery that later became the private property of the
    Shahamirian family.

    The church replaced an Armenian chapel that had been built in 1712
    that was destroyed in the 1746 British-French colonial war. There
    are two dates inscribed at the church entrance - 1772 1nd 1712. The
    new construction was financed by Shahamir Shahamirian (Sultanumian)
    in memory of his wife who had died at an early age.

    St. Astvatzatzin (Holy Mother of God) is a testament to the glorious
    history of Armenians in Madras. One can say that the entire legacy of
    Armenian Madras, that had become the foundry of the new liberation
    thought of the times, has been stored under the arches of this
    magnificent church.

    St. Astvatzatzin is resting place for many historic figures

    The white-plastered church is located on a street where the noted
    merchants Shahamir Shahamirian, Samuel Moorat, the Gregory Brothers,
    Seth Sam returned after their long and arduous journeys and found
    eternal rest.

    This is where the Madras Group was formed. Its members, including
    Movses Baghramian, Shahamir Shahamirian and Joseph Emin, soared no
    efforts to inculcate Armenian youth with ideals of enlightenment and
    progressive thought.

    Under these arches, every Sunday for forty consecutive years, Father
    Harutiun Shmavonian, publisher of the first Armenian periodical
    "Azdarar" (Monitor), offered the Holy Liturgy.

    At least two Armenian printing presses were started here in Madras,
    and an Armenian school. Many of the notable members of the Madras
    Armenian community were laid to rest here. No wonder the street is
    named "Armenian Street".

    Time has marched on and there are no longer any Armenians in Madras.

    But the walled Armenian Church, symbolizing their eternal glory rises
    proudly on a hill top. At first glance, it is hardly noticeable.

    When bells ring locals know an Armenian has returned

    The commercial shopkeepers that line the street know precious little
    about the church. But they are aware that it's the oldest Christian
    cathedral in the district.

    Few also know that the unique and valuable examples of the first
    Christian bells forged rest here in the church, in the three story
    bell tower that rises apart from the church.

    The belfry's three pair of enormous bells called the faithful to
    church for many decades. Sadly, now the bells are not rung every
    Sunday. When the peeling of the bells is heard, residents in the
    vicinity of Armenian Street know that an Armenian has come to the
    church. Most Armenian visitors today come from Calcutta. The bulk
    of Madras Armenians relocated to Calcutta in the latter half of the
    19th century.

    Each pilgrim that visits the Armenian church climbs the tower to see
    the bells and to capture the moment. All three pairs of bells bear
    dates. Each weighs 150 kilos. The oldest was forged in 1754.

    Armenian church bells bear proud legacy

    This bell has an Armenian inscription that was added in 1808 at the
    district's famous "Aroulapan" foundry. The next bell was forged in
    1778 and the other two in 1790. They were donated by Agha Shahamir
    Shahamirian in memory of his son Eliazar Shahamirian who died at the
    tender age of nineteen. The last pair of bells is the most valuable,
    having been forged in 1837 with the inscription, "Thomas Mears,
    Founder, London". This signifies that the bells were built at the
    prominent Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. This foundry entered
    the Guinness Book of records as the oldest manufacturing concern in
    Great Britain. It mostly produces bells for use in churches.

    The foundry has been operating since 1420. Traditionally, the name
    of the chief craftsman of the period would be engraved on the bells
    produced. From the 19th century up till 1968, all the finished
    products, including the bells of St. Astvatzatzin, have carried the
    moniker of "Mears & Stainbank"

    The oldest bell forged at this foundry is kept in London. It has the
    dubious distinction of being the world's oldest. The next bell with the
    oldest inscription is the famous Philadelphia Liberty Bell, dated 1752.

    The Liberty Bell epitomizes the American War of Independence from
    Britain. Tradition has it that the bell signaled the signing of the
    American Declaration of Independence in 1776. Every year, thousands
    of visitors flock to Philadelphia to gaze at this historic and
    valuable bell.

    Perhaps the most famous bell produced at this foundry is the one that
    rings in the Big Ben clock tower in London's Westminster Palace.

    Forged in 1858, it is the biggest bell ever forged with a height of
    2.2 meters and a width of 2.9. It weighs in at an astounding 13 tons.

    Other famous bells to come out of the Whitechapel Foundry are those at
    the Liverpool Mother Cathedral, London's St Mary le Bow Church and the
    bells at Westminster Abbey. Includes in this list of ancient bells are
    two of the six bells found in the St. Astvatzatzin Church in Madras.

    While it's nearly impossible to state with any certainty that purchased
    the bells for the church, by the application of a bit of deduction
    and cross-referencing of the dates on the bells with the wealthiest
    Armenians in Madras at the time, we can speculate that it was either
    the Gregory Brothers or Seth Sam. It's less likely that the Moorat
    Family purchased the bells since they adhered to the Roman Catholic
    Church.

    Naturally, these bells symbolize the dedication of the Armenians
    of Madras to the Armenian Apostolic Church. On the other hand, they
    also reflect the wealth and prosperity that the community possessed
    at the time.

    This short narrative allows us to delve, albeit briefly, into the
    life and times of the Madras Armenian community.

    The English historian J. Hanvey, discussing the Armenian merchants
    of Madras during the 18th century, notes that, "Armenians were
    successfully trading with Russia as well as with England. With their
    capital and contacts they held their own against the likes of English,
    Russian and Dutch traders.

    We thus see that at the dawn of the 19th century, Armenian merchants,
    with their financial resources and prowess, were still giving the
    British East-Indian company a run for the money.

    It is likely that with such investments in English manufacturing,
    the Armenians of Madras were aiming to preserve their influence in
    British controlled India.

    Hermineh Adamyan Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy Calcutta
    (Kolkata), India
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