INTRODUCTION

OUR HISTORY

TIMELINE

OUR PASTORS

OUR PARISH COUNCIL

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

OUR HISTORY

The Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs was born of a deep inner conviction on the part of the many Armenians living on Long Island for a place where they could worship God as their ancestors had worshiped throughout the centuries and where old and young could gather to keep alive the rich Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage.

The desire grew and gained momentum, and in 1954 a Building Committee was formed to make the necessary transactions for the purchase of the property on which our church is now located. Three prominent members of the community, Artin Aslanian, Dadour Dadourian and Poozant Piranian, generously contributed the initial cost of the land. In June of that year the Certificate of Incorporation filed in Albany made the church an officially chartered institution and simultaneously our church became a bona fide parish of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

To commemorate these first steps marking the inception of our new parish, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by our first priest-in-charge, the Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Manoogian, at St. George Episcopal Church in Flushing on June 20, 1954. Fr. Torkom, now His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, will long be remembered affectionately by our community for guiding our leaders in the right steps toward the formation of the parish.

Fund-raising dinners and balls were held throughout the mid-1950's to raise the amount necessary to begin construction on our church building. The monumental task was performed by Dikran Missirlian, Chairman of the building committee, Manoug Exerjian, Architect, and all the hard-working members of that time. Numerous affluent members of the parish gave generously of their resources and devoted many hours toward solving the problems which arose. Were it not for the dreams of our founding fathers and their foresight, we would not be able to enjoy the fruits of their labors today. May God bless them in His heavenly kingdom.

Several important events in the early life of our church took place in relatively rapid succession during 1955 and 1956. April 17, 1955, was set aside for the Ground-Breaking ceremony, when the Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Manoogian officiated and dug the first shovel of earth at the corner of Horace Harding Expressway and Oceania Street in Bayside. Another highlight was the Cornerstone-Laying Ceremony on September 25, 1955, over which the Very Rev. Fr. Muron Gourdjikian presided.

As our church edifice took shape so did the parish, with an appointed Parish Council initially taking the helm. The groups which were the first to be organized were the Women’s Guild, the Church Choir and the Church Sunday School. The campaign for funds continued, through bazaars, picnics, garden parties and dinner dances, in order to provide the church with necessary equipment and furnishings. By the end of 1956, the sanctuary was ready to be opened for worship. With many items borrowed from nearby Armenian churches, St. Gregory and Holy Cross of New York City, to complete the altar arrangements, the first Divine Liturgy was finally celebrated in our new church on December 16, 1956.

At the Annual Parish Assembly held in February of 1957, the first election for parish council members was held. The new Council with its chairman, Yervant Hampar, worked intensively with the Pastor toward the successful completion of the building and the continued increase in the quality and numbers of the parish organizations. Over 500 dues-paying members signed up and the Every Member Pledge system, forerunner of today’s stewardship program, was instituted.

The purchase of the parish house close to the church allowed the parish to provide adequate housing for our Pastor. In the course of time, a school and community center was built for our Church Sunday School and Armenian Language School. The Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School, an accredited elementary school up to grade six, is also housed in the complex. The Mr. & Mrs. Auxiliary and the Men’s League, in their day, were effective in bringing together those who wished to foster an appreciation of Armenian culture and sports. Auxiliary groups which are currently supporting and serving the church are the Women’s Guild, Choir, Senior and Junior ACYOA, and the Sports Organization. The Church Sunday School and Armenian Language School attend to the religious and Armenian language and cultural education of our children, respectively, under the umbrella of the church. Our Senior Citizens and New Directions groups, although not considered as church auxiliaries, function within the framework of the parish and are very supportive.

In anticipation of the next and most uplifting milestone in our church’s history, its Consecration, the necessary additions were provided. The altars, main altar painting, baptismal font, chandeliers, carpeting, chancel railing, and stained glass windows were put in place and beautified the sanctuary in preparation of that joyful day. Our church was consecrated on September 28, 1958, in the name of Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, with Neil Hanes serving as godfather.

On the anniversary of this Consecration Day, our thoughts unavoidably go seventeen centuries back to a glorious day in the year 303 A.D. when the Holy Spirit descended out of heaven and dwelled in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Since then, our forefathers have been building churches. Following their wonderful example and with the help of our community, we too completed a splendid edifice and provided a spiritual home for the Armenians of our community.

The Holy Martyrs parish has observed several important occasions from time to time during the past forty-five years, such as anniversaries of the church, testimonials to deserving members of the parish, and national assemblies of the ACYOA, AACCA and the Diocese. On the diocesan level, our parishioners serve in various capacities and on numerous projects of the Diocese. In a word, our church has become a viable, important parish of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

With the installation of our beloved priest, Very Reverend Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian, as the pastor of our parish a new phase began in the history of the parish. New programs and activities were introduced, and older ones were revitalized. A special emphasis was put on the educational, cultural as well as social aspects of the church ministry. Programs were developed to emphasize, among other things, the role of the parish as part of the larger community of New York City.

The programs initiated in the past three years led to an increase in the number of the parishioners as well as participants in the various programs of the parish. Consequently, many important and necessary improvements have been made to our church complex to accommodate the growing need to its facilities. However, the need for further expansion is strongly felt in order to fulfill the requirements of the youth and all the constituencies of the parish. To this end and with serious long range planning in mind, the church purchased an additional parcel adjoining our original property, to which we hope to add in the future.

We ask God to fortify us to forge ahead in true Christian faith to greater achievements. Our heritage is a proud one, hard won and seeming perilously close to disaster at times; but we have persevered and can only hope and pray that our work will be perpetuated by those who follow us.

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OUR PASTORS

Since 1955, the following clergymen have served our parish as pastors, assistant pastors or visiting pastors:

Rev. Fr. Vartan Megherian of Blessed Memory

Rev. Fr. Carnig Hallajian

Rev. Fr. Michael Buttero of Blessed Memory

Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian

Rev. Fr. Krikor Hairabedian of Blessed Memory

Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian

Very Rev. Fr. Vazken Karayan

Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian

Very Rev. Fr. Samuel Aghoyan

Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Melkonian of Blessed Memory

Very Rev. Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian (present)

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PARISH COUNCIL (2006-2007)

Chairman
Dr. Lynn Cetin

Executive Committee

Gregory Saraydarian, Vice Chairman

Gerard Babaian, Teasurer

Hilda Adil, Assistant Treasurer

Tanya Bukucuyan, Recording Secretary

Members at Large

Lucy Calikyan

Janet Davidian

Deacon Garbis Martayan

Peter Paternostro, Jr.

Nichan Tchorbajian

Michael Zohrabian

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TIMELINE

1954 – The property on Horace Harding Expressway between 209 and 210 Street in Bayside was purchased
1954 – Certificate of Incorporation filed with the State of New York
1954 – First Priest-in-Charge, V. Rev. Fr. Torkom Manoogian, currently the Patriarch of Jerusalem, assigned to the parish. Divine Liturgies celebrated at St. George Episcopal Church in Flushing, NY
October 27, 1954 – Women’s Guild organized
April 17, 1955 – Ground-Breaking Ceremonies – Beginning of Construction Architect – Manoug Exerjian
September 25, 1955 – Cornerstone-Laying Ceremonies
March 1956 – Church Choir Organized
March 1956 – ACYOA Organized
September 30, 1956 – Sunday School classes opened at the Flushing YMCA
December 16, 1956 – Church was opened for worship services
February 17, 1957 – First Parish Council Election held
September 1957 – Armenian Language School organized
September 28, 1958 – Church consecrated in the name of the Holy Martyrs
1972 – The Kalustyan Hall and the School facilities built
2000 – Holy Martyrs Youth Choir established
2001 – Friday Family Nights and the Hye Cafe Commenced
2002 – Holy Martyrs Youth Dance Group established
2003 – The Martyrs Shrine built and consecrated in memory of the martyrs of the 1915 Genocide
2004 – Holy Martyrs Theatrical Group established
2005 – Holy Martyrs Youth Soccer Team established
2006 – Holy Martyrs' Fifth Bible Study Group: "Outreach to the Armenian Home in Flushing"

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LOCATION & DIRECTIONS

The Parish of the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs with its Offices and School Buildings is located at 209-15 Horace Harding Expressway in Bayside, New York 11364.

DIRECTIONS:

From Long Island, NY
From Manhattan, NY
From Westchester, NY
From New Jersey
Directions Using Mapquest
Directions Using Yahoo

From Long Island: Take the LIE West to Oceania Street Exit. Make right at light on Oceania Street. The Church is on right at the corner.

From NJ:
Take GWB to Cross Bronx Expy.
to (*)Throgs Neck Bridge,
to Clearview Expy.
Exit at Northern Blvd.
Follow Service Road to 53^rd Avenue. Make a left on 53^rd Avenue.
Continue on 53^rd to Oceania Street. Make a right on Oceania. The Church is on your left at the corner.

From Manhattan, NY: Go Southeast on W 42nd St.
Turn right on 2nd Ave and go Southwest. Turn left on ramp at sign reading "Queens Midtown Tunnel" and go East. Continue on I-495 and go East for 11 miles. Bear right on ramp at sign reading "Exit 27 I-295 Clearview Expwy to Throgs Neck BR / Hillside Ave and RT-25" and go East for 0.4 miles. Bear right on Clearview Expy, I-295 and go North for 1.5 miles.

From Westchester: Follow directions from Throgs Neck Bridge *

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