During the week of November 8 to the 15 2008 the Armenian community of Calcutta will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Holy Church of Nazareth; the Church was initially built in 1707.

St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Chennai (formerly Madras) was built in 1712. The home of the fist Armenian periodical in the world, Azdarar, was printed in Chennai in the year 1794. Under the auspices of the Armenian Church Committee it has recently been fully restored and renovated, as have some of the other Armenian churches. St. Mary’s Church will be re-consecrated during this event.

The Pastor, and the Armenian Church Committee members extend an invitation to everyone who is interested to joining them in this historical event.

A variety of events have been planned for the week, which will include a Hrashapar service, Pontifical Liturgy, and Thanksgiving service at the Holy Nazareth Armenian Church. A cultural seminar, inauguration of the Community Centre at Tangra and Ground Breaking ceremony of Armenian College Sports Complex, tours to the Armenian Churches in Kolkata as well as a visit to the oldest Armenian Churches in West Bengal, which are St. John the Baptist Armenian Church built in 1695 in Chinsurah and Holy Virgin Mary Armenian Church built in 1758 in Saidabad.

Source: By Public Radio of Armenia