Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth - Kolkata    Share

A good place near Barabazar too much croud, traffic and parking not available. You can find some cosmetic jewellery shops, some colour shops and decorations item shops over there..

One of the oldest of Kolkata churches. Armenia was perhaps a Russian province which doesn't exist today.

The church is a walking distance of 10minutes from M.G road from burrabazaar. Its main entrance is blocked by china bazaar market and there is a side entrance to the church. The security guards of the church are nonchalant towards visitors and one of them is particularly irritated if you are likely to spend more than 15minutes inside the church. He would quite disapprovingly shoo you away and say there is nothing to see for so long. The church compound is peaceful and in sharp contrast to the outside jittery pandemonium of the market. The compound is filled with graves and tombstones. You can find the oldest grave of kolkata here of Reeza Beebah. The church interior is similarly well maintained with three oil paintings and grand candlestands with wooden stand clocks. Overall the ambience and air smells and feels like you have stepped back a century.

On 22 June 1688, the British East India Company signed a contract with the Armenians residing in India. The contract was signed by Sir Josiah Child, who represented the East India Company; and Khoja Sarhad and Khoja Fanush, who represented the Armenian community in Bengal. In accordance with the agreement, the East India Company had to build churches throughout India in areas that were inhabited by at least 40 Armenians, with the provision of 50 pounds as a salary for the priests in those churches. In 1708, which is officially considered the founding date of the church (although 1705 and 1707 have also been given as dates by sources), the East India Company built a small wooden church on what is now the site of the southeast wing of the Church of Holy Nazareth. In 2008, it celebrated its tercentenary.[4] Later, an Armenian named Aga Nazar (Jakob Nazar) raised money and built the church in 1724.[5] The present church building was built in 1764 by Aga Mamed Hazar Maliyar on land donated by an Armenian named Kenanentekh Phanoosh, and was designed by Kavond (or Hevond) from Persia. The interior of the church was designed by Catchick Arakiel. Arakiel also built a monastery for priests and erected a high wall around the cemetery. In addition, he donated a clock to be fitted in the church structure. In 1790, Catchick Arakiel attached a room to the clergy and set the clock on the belfry. The expensively decorated interiors, including a combination of black and white marble, were placed with the support of wealthy Armenians, such as Sir Catchick Paul Chater. The outer buildings were all built at the expense of wealthy Calcutta Armenians such as Arathoon Stephen, builder and owner of the world-famous Calcutta GRAND HOTEL.

A beautiful church by the Armenians for Armenians, which is absolutely stunning and spartan. It's a place of worship which absolutely well maintained and inviting. It's patrons are a closely knit entity and the entry to this church is strictly restricted and monitored. It has limited sessions of prayers to suit it's patrons.