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ARMENIANS TO BREAK GROUND ON NEW CHURCH SATURDAY
By Yadira Betances, [email protected]
Eagle Tribune
September 24, 2008 12:23 am
MA
HAVERHILL -- With shovels in hand, members of the Armenian Church at
Hye Pointe will turn the soil on Saturday and bless the area where
the congregation's new home will be built.
"I think it's extremely exciting," said parish priest the Rev. Kevork
Arakelian, who will lead the blessing.
Hye Pointe was established seven years ago as a result of the merger
between St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Haverhill and Holy
Cross Armenian Apostolic Church in Lawrence.
It was the first time two Armenian congregations have merged to
create one parish in the United States. The parish has 132 dues paying
members and a total of 600 families.
Last October, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians,
blessed the cornerstones where the new church will be built.
Arakelian said the building will be done in three phases -- starting
with the water, electricity and telephone hookup, followed by
construction of the church and cultural hall in the spring.
Hye Pointe will be built on nine acres at 1280 Boston Road (Route 125)
on the Bradford/North Andover line.
The architecture will be similar to those in Armenia with a dome atop
the church. The church will be decorated with icons of the apostles
and saints and stained-glass windows depicting biblical stories.
The baptismal font will be on the eastern side of the building,
symbolic of men looking for the light of Christ as the sun rises from
the east, Arakelian said.
The church will seat up to 200 people and there will be seven
classrooms for religious education.
Construction will cost between $4.5 million and $5 million, Arakelian
said. Church members have already raised $1 million from the sale of
the Lawrence church, donations and pledges.
Holy Cross Armenian was purchased by members of Church of God,
a Hispanic evangelical congregation, for $550,000. St. Gregory
the Illuminator Church, Main Street, Haverhill, is still on the
market. Parish council chairman Scott Sahagian said it took a long
time for the groundbreaking day to come, but he was always optimistic.
"Absolutely. This is a marathon and we're approaching Heartbreak Hill,"
Sahagian said. "This is what needs to be done for our people. All of
us are elated."
Sahagian said having a new church home will not only keep their
Christian faith alive, but also their culture and traditions.
Arakelian agreed.
The church liturgy is celebrated mostly in Armenian, but the sermons
are in English. Hye Pointe also offers a Sunday School for children
and an Armenian school, where children and adults learn the history
of Armenia, songs and prayers.
"As with everything, there is hope and that will carry us forward,"
Arakelian said. "The foundation has been set by the people who are
there now and as the community builds, it will grow."
By Yadira Betances, [email protected]
Eagle Tribune
September 24, 2008 12:23 am
MA
HAVERHILL -- With shovels in hand, members of the Armenian Church at
Hye Pointe will turn the soil on Saturday and bless the area where
the congregation's new home will be built.
"I think it's extremely exciting," said parish priest the Rev. Kevork
Arakelian, who will lead the blessing.
Hye Pointe was established seven years ago as a result of the merger
between St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Haverhill and Holy
Cross Armenian Apostolic Church in Lawrence.
It was the first time two Armenian congregations have merged to
create one parish in the United States. The parish has 132 dues paying
members and a total of 600 families.
Last October, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians,
blessed the cornerstones where the new church will be built.
Arakelian said the building will be done in three phases -- starting
with the water, electricity and telephone hookup, followed by
construction of the church and cultural hall in the spring.
Hye Pointe will be built on nine acres at 1280 Boston Road (Route 125)
on the Bradford/North Andover line.
The architecture will be similar to those in Armenia with a dome atop
the church. The church will be decorated with icons of the apostles
and saints and stained-glass windows depicting biblical stories.
The baptismal font will be on the eastern side of the building,
symbolic of men looking for the light of Christ as the sun rises from
the east, Arakelian said.
The church will seat up to 200 people and there will be seven
classrooms for religious education.
Construction will cost between $4.5 million and $5 million, Arakelian
said. Church members have already raised $1 million from the sale of
the Lawrence church, donations and pledges.
Holy Cross Armenian was purchased by members of Church of God,
a Hispanic evangelical congregation, for $550,000. St. Gregory
the Illuminator Church, Main Street, Haverhill, is still on the
market. Parish council chairman Scott Sahagian said it took a long
time for the groundbreaking day to come, but he was always optimistic.
"Absolutely. This is a marathon and we're approaching Heartbreak Hill,"
Sahagian said. "This is what needs to be done for our people. All of
us are elated."
Sahagian said having a new church home will not only keep their
Christian faith alive, but also their culture and traditions.
Arakelian agreed.
The church liturgy is celebrated mostly in Armenian, but the sermons
are in English. Hye Pointe also offers a Sunday School for children
and an Armenian school, where children and adults learn the history
of Armenia, songs and prayers.
"As with everything, there is hope and that will carry us forward,"
Arakelian said. "The foundation has been set by the people who are
there now and as the community builds, it will grow."