An old but interesting story: --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar Monday, Feb 24, 2003 The bells of St. Mary's THE SIX bells of the Armenian Church of St. Mary's, believed to be the largest number in any church in Tamil Nadu, are rung at 9 a.m. for three minutes every Sunday by caretaker Michael Stephen to mark the church "as being alive", even if there are only two Armenians left in Madras today. But when they pealed on one recent Sunday morning, February 9, they did so for much longer and several times. It was one of those rare occasions in recent years that this bit of Madras history in Armenian Street came alive with worship being held in it. More significantly, worship was being conducted in it for the first time in nearly 10 years by an American priest who offered the dozen-strong congregation visiting from Calcutta and the dozen or so guests from the city the full grandeur of a service of the Armenian Orthodoxy. [snip] http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/02/24/stories/2003022400170300.htm

And for anyone interested, since that article was written in 2003, the bells, Church and surrounding grounds have undergone extensive and sympathetic renovation over the last two years under the new Church committee and Pastor, Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian. The church will be re-consecrated in November this year by His Holiness, Karekin II, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians who will be in India on a Pontifical visit. His Holiness Karekin II, is spiritual leader of the world's 9 million Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Christians. He will then travel on to Kolkata to conduct Hrashapar service at the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth which is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year. The Hrashapar Service is one that is traditionally celebrated by the Church involved in the arrival of the Catholicos. This service has two meanings: one of welcome and also, on the part of the Catholicos, a service of Thanksgiving for having reached his destination safely and an acknowledgement of the honor being bestowed upon him. The Armenian Church at Chennai and its bells will once again see regular services held as part of the programme to ensure the Armenian churches in India continue for many more generations to come. Best wishes Liz Researching Chater or Armenians in India and Hong Kong in 2008? Please go to www.chater-genealogy.com.