Twitter
Advertisement

Holy Mass echoes the Armenian way in city Church

The mass being celebrated at St Peter’s Orthodox Church. It was built by the Armenians in 1796

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Arriving in Mumbai as traders in the late 17th Century and early 18th Century, Armenians built a Church nestled in the lanes of Fort. Named St Peter's Orthodox Church, it was built in 1796 by Armenians. Besides Kolkata, where they continue to be in large numbers, presence of Armenians can also be seen in Surat, Delhi, and Agra.

On Thursday, Armenian priests from Kolkata conducted Holy Mass at the church after six years in an Armenian manner.

"Two years ago there was a small prayer service in Armenian language but this is happening after six years," said Zabel "Bella" Joshi, one of the few Armenians living in the city. Joshi, now 70-years-old came from Juhu where she now lives. "I came to India in 1972 after my marriage to my Indian husband. I am originally from Beirut in Lebanon. A lot of Armenians live there, too. For me, praying in Armenian language is something that is me. My grandfather was a priest," said Joshi who now speaks different Indian languages.

Considered Orthodox, Armenia was the first Christian nation over 18 centuries ago in 310 AD. "Back then, the Armenian ruler's daughter was unwell. The King vouched to convert to Christianity if his daughter is healed. That is when the nation became the first Christian nation," said Thomas Varughese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church who is looking after the Armenian Church for the last 12 years. The church opens only once a week for few hours of service by the Malankara Church followers.

"We are sister churches. Unlike Roman Catholics, Orthodox do not have one head. In each region we have heads. Our head is in India. Their's is Catholicos (Supreme Head of Armenian Church). Since we are both Orthodox and have mainly everything similar, when the population of Armenians thinned out in city, we were looking for space and they gave the church when we asked for it," said Fr Benjamin Philip, Vicar (head) of the St Peter's Church Orthodox Church. Both orthodox churches do not use idols and have only icons (pictures) of Jesus and Mary.

Fr Movses Sargsyan, pastor manager of Indian-Armenian Spiritual Pastorate who flew from Kolkatta thanked the Malankara community for taking care of the Church."It was excellent being here. It was like a pilgrimage for us. Mass was not done for and I look to doing one every year," said Fr. Movses.

The Holy Mass besides being witnessed by the Joshi and followers of Malankara Orthodox Church was also witnessed by Jason Johns, a visiting faculty at Ancient Indian History and Culture at St. Xavier's College who is studying the Armenians in city. "They even had a grave in Byculla which was shifted to Sewri after government order," said Johns who had come to witness the liturgy to update his study.

"It was a nice experience to hear the Mass in Armenian way in their language," said Johns. "It was different and same in some ways. Different in terms of vestment of priest and parts of communion and same in things that we do as well. We did not understand the mass but it was spiritually enriching the way they sung it," said Thomas.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement