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The 100 Years Old Armenian Family of Yettem
hetq
15:59, July 2, 2011
Seda Gbranian-Melkonian
The year was 1890. Reverends Haroutioun Jenanyan, Nazareth Spenchian
and Gebriel Baghdoyan set foot in California's San Joaquin Valley.
They had left their beautiful homeland Armenia behind. They gazed at
the Sierra Nevada mountains and the memory of their homeland filled
their souls. The three men were in search of a new home. It took them
almost eleven years to understand that the one place in all America
that came closest to resembling their homeland in Armenia was the San
Joaquin Valley.
In 1901 Reverend Jenanyan purchased land there and named the place
Yettem, which means Eden. New comers from the old country purchased
small lots from Jenanyan and made it their new home. With new
Armenians arriving from the region of Cilicia, a community of farmers
was formed, who belonged to the Armenian Presbyterian and the Armenian
Apostolic churches. The Armenian Presbyterians had their worship in
small school building.
In 1903 the Armenian Apostolic church had its first worship service on
Pentecost Sunday at the same school building. After the worship of the
Presbyterians, in the afternoon, the Apostolic liturgy took place.
Also in 1903 the name Yettem was officially adopted. This was going to
be the only place in the United States of America with a pure Armenian
name. The new settlers, most of them villagers from the old country,
cultivated the land growing fruits and vegetables.
>From 1904 to 1909 church services were held in the Yettem school
building. In 1909 the first Parish Council Choir and Building
Committees were organized and in May of that year, the cornerstones of
a new church were blessed. In January 1911 construction had begun. The
church was a modest wooden building with arched windows and a bell
tower in front. It was built mainly by volunteers.
Bishop Moushegh Seropian of Fresno travelled to Yettem and consecrated
the new church in the name of St. Mary on July 3. One year later the
Armenian school and Sunday school were established. In 1914 the first
Ladies Society was founded in what was to become the Western Diocese
and a year later a library was created. In 1922 the first parish
priest arrived and since then there have been nine priests who have
served at St. Mary's Armenian church.
In 1920 the Yettem community numbered about five hundred people.
However, the Great Depression forced many to leave their homes. Young
people moved to Fresno and Los Angeles never to return.
On June 12, 1945 the original church was destroyed by fire. In
September, 1946 the foundation stones of a new church were blessed. It
was built from red bricks using traditional Armenian church design
with a dome and a bell tower. The architect was Laurence K. Cone
(Condrajian). The new church was consecrated by Bishop Vartan
Kasparian on November 16, 1947.
In July, 1960 His Holiness Vazken I Supreme Patriach-Catholicos of All
Armenians visited St. Mary parish of Yettem. Later His Holiness
Karekin I and His Holliness Karekin II also visited St. Mary parish.
Several other high ranking clergy and VIPs from Armenia and the
Diaspora also have been the guests of St. Mary parish.
Among these was the unique visitation of General Antranig, who
participated in a fund raising event at Yettem in 1920. In mid
seventies, with the help of the parish priest Father Vartan Kasparian,
the future National Hero of Armenia Monte Melkonian frequently
attended the Sunday school at St. Mary's Church of Yettem.
Currently there is only one Armenian family that has remained in
Yettem since its creation. Every Sunday and during holidays
parishioners from nearby towns, mostly from Visalia, come to the
church, keeping their religion and Armenian traditions alive. Through
youth programs the torch is carried from generation to generation,
passing on the Armenian heritage. St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church
gathers its children around it in a warm and loving embrace, like a
caring and affectionate family.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
hetq
15:59, July 2, 2011
Seda Gbranian-Melkonian
The year was 1890. Reverends Haroutioun Jenanyan, Nazareth Spenchian
and Gebriel Baghdoyan set foot in California's San Joaquin Valley.
They had left their beautiful homeland Armenia behind. They gazed at
the Sierra Nevada mountains and the memory of their homeland filled
their souls. The three men were in search of a new home. It took them
almost eleven years to understand that the one place in all America
that came closest to resembling their homeland in Armenia was the San
Joaquin Valley.
In 1901 Reverend Jenanyan purchased land there and named the place
Yettem, which means Eden. New comers from the old country purchased
small lots from Jenanyan and made it their new home. With new
Armenians arriving from the region of Cilicia, a community of farmers
was formed, who belonged to the Armenian Presbyterian and the Armenian
Apostolic churches. The Armenian Presbyterians had their worship in
small school building.
In 1903 the Armenian Apostolic church had its first worship service on
Pentecost Sunday at the same school building. After the worship of the
Presbyterians, in the afternoon, the Apostolic liturgy took place.
Also in 1903 the name Yettem was officially adopted. This was going to
be the only place in the United States of America with a pure Armenian
name. The new settlers, most of them villagers from the old country,
cultivated the land growing fruits and vegetables.
>From 1904 to 1909 church services were held in the Yettem school
building. In 1909 the first Parish Council Choir and Building
Committees were organized and in May of that year, the cornerstones of
a new church were blessed. In January 1911 construction had begun. The
church was a modest wooden building with arched windows and a bell
tower in front. It was built mainly by volunteers.
Bishop Moushegh Seropian of Fresno travelled to Yettem and consecrated
the new church in the name of St. Mary on July 3. One year later the
Armenian school and Sunday school were established. In 1914 the first
Ladies Society was founded in what was to become the Western Diocese
and a year later a library was created. In 1922 the first parish
priest arrived and since then there have been nine priests who have
served at St. Mary's Armenian church.
In 1920 the Yettem community numbered about five hundred people.
However, the Great Depression forced many to leave their homes. Young
people moved to Fresno and Los Angeles never to return.
On June 12, 1945 the original church was destroyed by fire. In
September, 1946 the foundation stones of a new church were blessed. It
was built from red bricks using traditional Armenian church design
with a dome and a bell tower. The architect was Laurence K. Cone
(Condrajian). The new church was consecrated by Bishop Vartan
Kasparian on November 16, 1947.
In July, 1960 His Holiness Vazken I Supreme Patriach-Catholicos of All
Armenians visited St. Mary parish of Yettem. Later His Holiness
Karekin I and His Holliness Karekin II also visited St. Mary parish.
Several other high ranking clergy and VIPs from Armenia and the
Diaspora also have been the guests of St. Mary parish.
Among these was the unique visitation of General Antranig, who
participated in a fund raising event at Yettem in 1920. In mid
seventies, with the help of the parish priest Father Vartan Kasparian,
the future National Hero of Armenia Monte Melkonian frequently
attended the Sunday school at St. Mary's Church of Yettem.
Currently there is only one Armenian family that has remained in
Yettem since its creation. Every Sunday and during holidays
parishioners from nearby towns, mostly from Visalia, come to the
church, keeping their religion and Armenian traditions alive. Through
youth programs the torch is carried from generation to generation,
passing on the Armenian heritage. St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church
gathers its children around it in a warm and loving embrace, like a
caring and affectionate family.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress