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Work beginning on building Armenian church
His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia performs
a ceremony during the groundbreaking for St. Garabed Armenian
Apostolic Church in Las Vegas Thursday, October 20, 2011.
By Aida Ahmed (contact)
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/oct/22/work-begin-building-armenian-church/
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.
St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church
Clark County Planning Commissioners approved Tuesday night the designs
for a new Armenian church to be built near the intersection of Desert
Inn Road and Burnham Avenue within Winchester.
Plans approved for valley's first permanent Armenian church Two years
after purchasing a half-acre parcel of land for a new church, Parish
Council President Andy Armenian broke ground on the St. Garabed
Armenian Apostolic Church Thursday.
The church, located at 2054 East Desert Inn Road near the Eastern
Avenue intersection, will be Nevada's first Armenian church.
`We have been holding our services in different locations and it was
time for us to have our own home,' Armenian said. `It was a dream that
we've been after for the past 10 years.'
For the past couple of years, services have been held in one of two
structures on the new property. Before that, Armenian said the church
was run out of a rented room at a Lutheran church on Sahara Avenue.
The design for the more than 3,500-square-foot church is based on
traditional Armenian architectural features dating back more than a
thousand years.
`We forget how many diverse religions we have in this community,' said
Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who supports Armenian's
efforts to give his church a permanent home. `This will give them
visibility. This will help us support and applaud the multiculturalism
of Las Vegas.'
She said the church filled a once-empty lot in an older part of town.
`I think it sets a tone,' Giunchigliani said. `It will help that neighborhood.'
The land for the new site was purchased in 2009 and the Clark County
Planning Commission approved plans for the church in December.
Back then the church, which conducts sermons in Armenian, had only 60
members. Armenian said the congregation has grown close to 150 weekly
members.
`Now that we're building it, we hope that people will more regularly
come to church,' Armenian said.
The church seats about 150 people. Armenian doesn't plan on an influx
of visitors but is prepared if the church can no longer hold its
growing membership.
`We'll have multiple services if that happens,' he said. `Morning and
noon, to deal with an increase in the congregation. Anyone who wants
to come and visit will be welcome.'
Construction for the church is slated to start in late November and
Armenian plans to hold the first service at the end of next year.
His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia performs
a ceremony during the groundbreaking for St. Garabed Armenian
Apostolic Church in Las Vegas Thursday, October 20, 2011.
By Aida Ahmed (contact)
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/oct/22/work-begin-building-armenian-church/
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.
St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church
Clark County Planning Commissioners approved Tuesday night the designs
for a new Armenian church to be built near the intersection of Desert
Inn Road and Burnham Avenue within Winchester.
Plans approved for valley's first permanent Armenian church Two years
after purchasing a half-acre parcel of land for a new church, Parish
Council President Andy Armenian broke ground on the St. Garabed
Armenian Apostolic Church Thursday.
The church, located at 2054 East Desert Inn Road near the Eastern
Avenue intersection, will be Nevada's first Armenian church.
`We have been holding our services in different locations and it was
time for us to have our own home,' Armenian said. `It was a dream that
we've been after for the past 10 years.'
For the past couple of years, services have been held in one of two
structures on the new property. Before that, Armenian said the church
was run out of a rented room at a Lutheran church on Sahara Avenue.
The design for the more than 3,500-square-foot church is based on
traditional Armenian architectural features dating back more than a
thousand years.
`We forget how many diverse religions we have in this community,' said
Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who supports Armenian's
efforts to give his church a permanent home. `This will give them
visibility. This will help us support and applaud the multiculturalism
of Las Vegas.'
She said the church filled a once-empty lot in an older part of town.
`I think it sets a tone,' Giunchigliani said. `It will help that neighborhood.'
The land for the new site was purchased in 2009 and the Clark County
Planning Commission approved plans for the church in December.
Back then the church, which conducts sermons in Armenian, had only 60
members. Armenian said the congregation has grown close to 150 weekly
members.
`Now that we're building it, we hope that people will more regularly
come to church,' Armenian said.
The church seats about 150 people. Armenian doesn't plan on an influx
of visitors but is prepared if the church can no longer hold its
growing membership.
`We'll have multiple services if that happens,' he said. `Morning and
noon, to deal with an increase in the congregation. Anyone who wants
to come and visit will be welcome.'
Construction for the church is slated to start in late November and
Armenian plans to hold the first service at the end of next year.