St. Stephen’s Church of Hartford and New Britain Celebrates 90th Anniversary

On Sun., Nov. 15, 2015, St. Stephen’s Armenian Church of Hartford and New Britain—the second oldest Armenian church in the United States—celebrated its 90^th anniversary.

In commemoration, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Primate of the Eastern Prelacy, and His Grace Anoushavan Tanielian, vicar general, celebrated the Ancient Mass of the Armenian Church. Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity in the year 301 A.D.

The mass was followed by a banquet at the Farmington Club, with a large number of members in attendance. A proclamation was read from Governor Dannel Malloy; Sixth District Senator Terry Gerrantana read a citation.

The archbishop and bishop welcomed the new godparents of the church, Mr. and Mrs. Garabed Thomasian of Worcester, Mass.

St. Stephen’s Church was dedicated in 1926, yet fell into foreclosure during the Great Depression. Four men stepped forward, pledging their personal assets to save the church. In honor of these men, Archbishop Oshagan presented awards to their descendants, who were in attendance: Susan Kochunas, the daughter of Karekin Kevorkian, the godfather of the church (who named it after the church he left in Cyprus before coming to America); and Lucy Horenian, the daughter of Avedis Atashian. The other two men were Amrah Bayram and Harry Parparian.

Following the citations, the children of the church presented a gift to the pastor, Archpriest Aram Stepanian, to be given to the orphaned children of Armenia.