Evening to Benefit Restoration of Dikranagerd Church

NEW MILFORD, N.J.—A Benefit Night to raise funds to restore the St. Giragos Armenian Church in Dikranagerd will take place on Saturday evening, May 14, at Hovnanian Banquet Hall in New Milford.

The St. Giragos Church before the renovation.

The evening will feature lively Armenian music by Onnik Dinkjian and his band, dinner, and information about the much-needed renovations to the St. Giragos Armenian Church. In attendance will be Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate; Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople; and Garen Nazarian, Armenia’s ambassador to the UN.

The Benefit Night will serve as an opportunity for the St. Giragos Church Restoration Committee (Eastern USA) to familiarize guests with the pressing reasons to save this symbolic church. Originally constructed in the 15th century, the church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1880 after a fire, which made it the largest Armenian basilica in Anatolia to this day. The first bell tower of the church was built in 1884 (cast by the world famous Zildjian Company), making it the tallest structure in Dikranagerd. Renowned for having seven altars signifying eternity in the Armenian alphabet, the church can accommodate more than 2,500 faithful during services.

Recognizing a need to renovate this historical cathedral, which is the property of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, a group of concerned Dikranagertsis in Istanbul came together to begin efforts to do so. Restoring the St. Giragos Armenian Church in Dikranagerd will ensure the existence of this significant church for future generations of Armenians.

The Benefit Night will kickoff fundraising efforts on the East Coast on Sat., May 14 at 8 p.m., Hovnanian Banquet Hall, 817 River Rd., New Milford. Donation is $75, limited space. For reservations, call: Hirant Gulian at (201) 313-1762, Zakar Dikme at (646) 387-6512, Hagop Uzatmajian at (201) 261-5771, Charles Pinajian at (201) 891-5420, Hagop Gulian at (201) 599-5996, or Diran Kilerjian at (845) 359-2152.

5 Comments

  1. Like I just wrote on another thread  here re Genocide perpetrated to armenians by ottoman,Ataturk ,young turks great Turkey, they will by and by try everything possible..now this one  is top of the line of their cunning mindset(Tigranakert) Diarbakir(kurdish future Capital)they know  that.i.e. the cunning turklish  diplomacy..
    this one is through our PAREMIDS  again to even have  them renew  the church there..no penny from Turkish Govt.(they did  that  in akhtamar,with very little touristic income…thence  better to have the Paremid(not to say Barzamid Armenians) themselves  renew  it raise  $$$in USA, bring them over.Anyhow we(turks) know that eventually that city Diarbakir will be  klurdish ,why should we spend money  for a place  that is swarming with kurds(later  some  Armenians too) .
    My friends, if we have  paremids(not to say Barzamids) amongst  us then it is Hellal  that turkish diplomacy make use  of them as …you know what?Barzamid Ermenis…
    Of course  it will be a good act  to renew  that church amongst  hundreds  more ..BUT ON WHOSE TERRITORY UNDER WHAT GOVT.?dAVOUT OGLUSU?,WHO STILL CONSIDER  YOU(eRMENIS9 PAREMIDS/BARZAMIDS…
    oH IT MAKES  ME  SICK TO BE CONFIRMED  THAT WE STILL HAVE SUCH NAIVE aRMENIANS  AMONGST  US WHO WILL BE TAKEN IN SO EASILY AND HASTILY..WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE RESULTS…
    THAT  OF OUR  <Q U E S T   FOR REAL COMPENSATION-LIKE JEWS GOT FROM GERMANY,for blood  moiney and then return  of our families/ancestors  real estates,arable  lands  proiperties  riches  confiscated  by their previous Govt(s)…
    What a pity we still do not  have  a ……………………………
    SUPREME   COUNCIL  OF  THE DIASPORA….
    ESH NAHADAG  HAY ZHOGHOVOURT..IS THE TITLE  OF A BOOK BY A ISTANBULLA ARMENIAN INTELLECTUAL-NOW  IN SOUTH OF FRANCE,IF NOT YET PASSED AWAY…THAT ESCAPED  TEH  TURKLISH WRATH  AND SESTTLED  THERE  SUNNY S.OF FRANCE

  2. I don’t understand this. Can someone explain to me how raising/donating money to Turkish/Kurdish occupied city is of any benefit to us? It seems to me like it’s a complete waste of money; we’re essentially funding Turkey. Is this church under Armenian control for us to be funding its restoration?
    I hope I’m missing something. Feel free to enlighten me.

  3. I understand that it’s the property of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, but is the situation really that simple?
    I’m just trying to get a better understanding of the situation..

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