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PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
March 8, 2007
His Holiness Karekin II Consecrates Holy Trinity Church in Tangra and
Visits Armenian Home for the Aged in Calcutta
On the morning of February 28, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, traveled from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Tangra
to preside and offer the re-consecration service of the historic Armenian
church of the Holy Trinity.  The church, originally built by the Armenian
community in 1823, had fallen into disuse in recent years.  The Armenian
Church Committee of Calcutta and Chinsurah renovated the sanctuary to
coincide with the visit of His Holiness, so that he could offer the
consecration service.
Accompanying His Holiness to Tangra were His Eminence Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand; His
Excellency Ashot Kocharian, Ambassador of Armenia to India; Very Rev. Fr.
Oshagan Gulgulian, Pastor of the Armenian community of India; the other
members of the pontifical entourage and all Armenian Church Committee
members, led by Mr. Haik Sookias, Jr., Chairman.
During the service, His Holiness consecrated the Holy Altar of the church
with Holy Chrism (Muron) brought from Armenia.  He was assisted by Abp.
Baliozian and Fr. Gulgulian as the 16 crosses for the columns of the church
were also anointed with the holy oil.  According to Armenian Church
tradition, each column is named after one of the 12 apostles, two
evangelists (who were not in the 12) and two Armenian saints.
The godfathers of the consecration service were Ambassador Ashot Kocharian
and the seven members of the Church Committee:  Chairman Haik Sookias, Jr.,
Warden Sunil Sobti, Warden Susan Reuben, and members Vachakan Tadevosian,
Narine Sahakian, Michael Dutt and Arsham Sookias.  At the conclusion of the
service, His Holiness presented the church with a `khatchkar' (cross-stone)
from Holy Etchmiadzin to be placed in the bema on which the altar rests.
Present for the service were Armenians from the community and the students
of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta.  Following
the service, His Holiness toured the grounds and cemetery of the church.
* * *
In the afternoon of the same day, having returned to Calcutta, His Holiness
and the delegation visited the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church. 
Built in 1906, it is the last Armenian Church built in India.  Located on
the grounds of the church is the `Sir Catchik Paul Chater Home' - the only
operational Armenian Home for the Aged in all of India, which currently has
19 residents.
The Catholicos of All Armenians offered a Repose of Souls service in the
church in memory of all past members of the Armenian community of India, and
afterwards visited each resident of the home, spending time with them,
encouraging them and offering them his pontifical blessings and the love of
Holy Etchmiadzin.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
March 8, 2007
His Holiness Karekin II Consecrates Holy Trinity Church in Tangra and
Visits Armenian Home for the Aged in Calcutta
On the morning of February 28, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, traveled from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Tangra
to preside and offer the re-consecration service of the historic Armenian
church of the Holy Trinity.  The church, originally built by the Armenian
community in 1823, had fallen into disuse in recent years.  The Armenian
Church Committee of Calcutta and Chinsurah renovated the sanctuary to
coincide with the visit of His Holiness, so that he could offer the
consecration service.
Accompanying His Holiness to Tangra were His Eminence Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand; His
Excellency Ashot Kocharian, Ambassador of Armenia to India; Very Rev. Fr.
Oshagan Gulgulian, Pastor of the Armenian community of India; the other
members of the pontifical entourage and all Armenian Church Committee
members, led by Mr. Haik Sookias, Jr., Chairman.
During the service, His Holiness consecrated the Holy Altar of the church
with Holy Chrism (Muron) brought from Armenia.  He was assisted by Abp.
Baliozian and Fr. Gulgulian as the 16 crosses for the columns of the church
were also anointed with the holy oil.  According to Armenian Church
tradition, each column is named after one of the 12 apostles, two
evangelists (who were not in the 12) and two Armenian saints.
The godfathers of the consecration service were Ambassador Ashot Kocharian
and the seven members of the Church Committee:  Chairman Haik Sookias, Jr.,
Warden Sunil Sobti, Warden Susan Reuben, and members Vachakan Tadevosian,
Narine Sahakian, Michael Dutt and Arsham Sookias.  At the conclusion of the
service, His Holiness presented the church with a `khatchkar' (cross-stone)
from Holy Etchmiadzin to be placed in the bema on which the altar rests.
Present for the service were Armenians from the community and the students
of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta.  Following
the service, His Holiness toured the grounds and cemetery of the church.
* * *
In the afternoon of the same day, having returned to Calcutta, His Holiness
and the delegation visited the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church. 
Built in 1906, it is the last Armenian Church built in India.  Located on
the grounds of the church is the `Sir Catchik Paul Chater Home' - the only
operational Armenian Home for the Aged in all of India, which currently has
19 residents.
The Catholicos of All Armenians offered a Repose of Souls service in the
church in memory of all past members of the Armenian community of India, and
afterwards visited each resident of the home, spending time with them,
encouraging them and offering them his pontifical blessings and the love of
Holy Etchmiadzin.