Armenian Church in Dhaka: A Placid Historical Pennon

 

The Armenian Church, located at Armanitola, besides being a historic landmark of the capital city Dhaka, silently bears signs of the history associated with the Armenian community in the colonial era.

People from different parts of the country and also from abroad visit the church quite often to know about the history of the Armenian community, their livelihood and cultural traditions with special reference to the previous centuries.

The church, one of the key historical monuments in Bangladesh, was established in 1781 to provide prayer facilities to Armenian traders. Four prominent Armenians --- Michael Sarkies, Astwasatoor Gavork, Khojah Petrus and Margar Pogose --- provided financial assistance in the building of the church, while another Armenian, Agah Catchick Minas, provided land for it.

During a visit to the site of the church, this correspondent found a security guard on duty at the main entrance who was guiding visitors. A part of the church premises is being used as quarters for the warden or caretaker of the church, while another part comprises a beautiful garden.

The Armenian Church is somewhat different from other churches owing to its special features. A bulk portion of the church premises has been taken up to house the graves of the Armenian community. That is in quite a contrast with other churches in the country. The church area is basically segmented into two parts. One is used as a prayer area for Armenians, while the other part is used as a graveyard. Thus the Armenian Church is much different.

There are around 400 graves in the church. Most of the graves are topped with valuable marble stones, on which messages from the Bible or Jesus Christ are inscribed.

History shows that Armenian traders began coming to Bangladesh along with Iranian merchants in the sixteenth century and engaged themselves in export and import trade. But Armenians did not initially live in Armanitola.  In the earlier stages, the Armenians lived in the Moulvibazar and Nolgola areas which are now parts of Old Dhaka. Inscriptions in the church hint that the Armenian traders might have begun to settle down in Armanitola in the eighteenth century.

The 750 feet tall church has four doors and seven windows. Earlier, there were a watch room, established by Johannes Karu Piet Sarkies, and a big bell. The watch room collapsed in an earthquake in 1897. The ringing of the bell was audible across the city. But the bell has not been rung since 1880.
The church is now under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh government. Shankar Ghosh is the caretaker of the church.

The residents of the area know about the historical significance of the church who asserted that the authorities concerned should initiate all measures for ensuring its preservation as part of national heritage.


PR Biswas is a Senior
Staff Correspondent of
The Asian Age.