24th December
2016.
As
part of Heritage walk in George Town area, after Sri Chennakesava Perumal
temple and Sri Chenna Malleeswarar temple, we continued our walk on the
Armenian street.
A Church was
built during 1712 CE inside Fort St George by the Armenian peoples exclusively
for their worship. (Church of Astvatzatzin). The Charch was destroyed by the
French. After 1749CE, land was not allotted to construct a new Church inside,
Fort St. George, this Church was constructed,
on Armenian street of then Black Town in 1772CE. The required land was obtained
from Shameer Sultan. Even before construction of this Church the Shmeer room
was constructed in 1765CE.
The deceased
Armenians are buried in the Church Complex. In front hall paintings Jesus, Old
Church, etc, The bell
tower was built separately and will be strike manually around 18.00 hrs.
Regular prayers are not conducted in the church. The church is opened for
public on all the days with fixed timings and it is extended to Armenians.
During Armenian archbishop’s arrival mass will be conducted. In the alter
picture of Mary carries Jesus ( child ) to the heaven. The original alter
is maintained till date and the paintings of Jesus can be seen on steps of the
alter.
There is
a memory stone fixed on the wall, which speaks about an Armenian merchant
Kojah Petrus Woskan’s contribution for the reconstruction of the
Marmalong Bridge ( Saidapet Bridge ) and steps laid to St Thomas Mount. His
wife Mamakhatoon died in Madras in the year 1781 and buried in this Church
Complex. We could see lot of tomb stones paved on the floor of the
church premises and it was told that many Armenians are buried here.
LOCATION OF THE CHURCH :CLICK
HERE
---Om
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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