Sunday, November 09, 2008

Chennai: St Mary's Armenian Church

In the morning, we drove to St Mary’s (Sourp Asdvadzadzin) church in Chennai for the 300th anniversary reconsecration ceremony by His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II.

We had refreshments afterwards and got to chat with His Holiness in an informal gathering.

It was very moving to hear the church bells toll and us walk in for the church ceremony, to hear Krapar and Sharagans in India.

I took a brief tour of the grounds and paid homage to the tomb of Rev. Haroutiun Shmavonian, founder of Aztarar, the first Armenian periodical published in Madras, 1794.

Lunch was at the Taj hotel. It was a lovely affair and then some of us did some shopping while others rested. We have a flight tonight into Calcutta where the Armenian program continues. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend everything as I have to fly home.

No comments: