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THRIVING ARMENIAN COMMUNITY CALLS CHELMSFORD CHURCH HOME
By Monica Jimenez
Wicked Local
http://www.wickedlocal.com/chelmsford/news/x3506602/Thriving-Armenian-community-calls-Chelmsford-church-home
Jan 23 2012
MA
Chelmsford - Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church
Pastor Rev. Fr. Khachatur Kesablyan was born in Etchmiadzin, Armenia
and served as chaplain to the Armenian Army from 1999 to 2001. From
2005 to 2006 he was pastor of the City of Kapan and its 30 surrounding
villages in southern Armenia. He came to the United States in 2006
and continued his religious service and education in Cambridge,
Brookline and Boston.
St. Vartan
The church is named for an Armenian hero named St. Vartan. In 451 AD
during the Battle of Avarayr, St. Vartan and others fought a Persian
army to defend the Christian faith, which the Persian ruler had
demanded they abandon in favor of the pagan religion of Zoroastrianism,
which involved fire worship. St. Vartan and many of his comrades died,
but the Persians eventually stopped trying to convert Armenia. The
Feast of Vartanantz, a religious and nationalistic celebration,
is held on the Thursday before Great Lent.
History
The Armenian Ladies Aid Society formed in 1910 with the goal of
building an Armenian church. Eventually Saints Vartanantz Armenian
Church was built on a small piece of land on Lawrence Street in
Lowell. During the next 60 years, the Armenian community grew and
church leaders began to consider expansion. In 1974 they moved into a
private school building on 16 acres of land in Chelmsford and held
services in the gymnasium and library while a new sanctuary was
designed and constructed. In June 1978, construction finished.
The church is a replica of the old "Cathedral of Ani" in Armenia,
a domed cruciform church built in 1001 AD that is considered a
masterpiece of architecture. It was updated in 1990 and now includes
a library, dining room, ballroom, and outdoor event area.
Calendar
Jan. 19 Dinner and Travelogue on Moscow, Armenia and Dubai, with a
chicken kebab dinner.
Feb. 12 Presentation of the Lord to the Temple. All children baptized
at the church in 2011 are invited to be re-dedicated at the altar.
Feb. 16 Commemoration of St. Vartan the Warrior and his companions.
Feb. 18 Poon Paregentan Dinner-Dance, featuring Middle Eastern music
and vocal, clarinet, keyboard, guitar and dumbeg performances.
By Monica Jimenez
Wicked Local
http://www.wickedlocal.com/chelmsford/news/x3506602/Thriving-Armenian-community-calls-Chelmsford-church-home
Jan 23 2012
MA
Chelmsford - Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church
Pastor Rev. Fr. Khachatur Kesablyan was born in Etchmiadzin, Armenia
and served as chaplain to the Armenian Army from 1999 to 2001. From
2005 to 2006 he was pastor of the City of Kapan and its 30 surrounding
villages in southern Armenia. He came to the United States in 2006
and continued his religious service and education in Cambridge,
Brookline and Boston.
St. Vartan
The church is named for an Armenian hero named St. Vartan. In 451 AD
during the Battle of Avarayr, St. Vartan and others fought a Persian
army to defend the Christian faith, which the Persian ruler had
demanded they abandon in favor of the pagan religion of Zoroastrianism,
which involved fire worship. St. Vartan and many of his comrades died,
but the Persians eventually stopped trying to convert Armenia. The
Feast of Vartanantz, a religious and nationalistic celebration,
is held on the Thursday before Great Lent.
History
The Armenian Ladies Aid Society formed in 1910 with the goal of
building an Armenian church. Eventually Saints Vartanantz Armenian
Church was built on a small piece of land on Lawrence Street in
Lowell. During the next 60 years, the Armenian community grew and
church leaders began to consider expansion. In 1974 they moved into a
private school building on 16 acres of land in Chelmsford and held
services in the gymnasium and library while a new sanctuary was
designed and constructed. In June 1978, construction finished.
The church is a replica of the old "Cathedral of Ani" in Armenia,
a domed cruciform church built in 1001 AD that is considered a
masterpiece of architecture. It was updated in 1990 and now includes
a library, dining room, ballroom, and outdoor event area.
Calendar
Jan. 19 Dinner and Travelogue on Moscow, Armenia and Dubai, with a
chicken kebab dinner.
Feb. 12 Presentation of the Lord to the Temple. All children baptized
at the church in 2011 are invited to be re-dedicated at the altar.
Feb. 16 Commemoration of St. Vartan the Warrior and his companions.
Feb. 18 Poon Paregentan Dinner-Dance, featuring Middle Eastern music
and vocal, clarinet, keyboard, guitar and dumbeg performances.