Armenian Church at Dhaka in Bangladesh: The quiet church from colonial area

Armenian Church at Dhaka in Bangladesh: The quiet church from colonial area:

Armenian Church at Dhaka in Bangladesh

In the 17th and 18th century, there was a strong presence of Armenians in Dhaka. When Persians conquered Eastern Armenia, Shah Abbas (king) deported about 40,000 Armenian traders to Isfahan and New Julfa. From there, they arrived at Bengal following the footsteps of the Persians. They establish their own trading community there, which was recognized by the Mughal govt. since the late 17th century. They used to trade textile, jute, and lather. Their colony in Dhaka is always known as Armanitola. Armenian Church at Dhaka in Bangladesh bears testimony to the existence of a significant Armenian community in the region.

Making of Armenian Church in Dhaka:

In truth, the Armenians were Christians belonging to Greek or Orthodox Church. They construct churches wherever they settled. Armenian churches and secular monuments in Chinsura, Saidabad, Murshidabad, Calcutta and Dhaka are always  extant. The early Armenian settlers construct a small chapel in the midst of their community graveyard in Armanitola. By the last of the 18th century, the Armenian community had grown considerably and the chapel was found inadequate for the needs of the community.

So the chapel was replaced by the Holy Resurrection Church with major donations by Agah Catchick Minas who donated the place and Michael Sarkies, Astwasatoor Gavork, Margar Pogose and Khojah Petrus for construction costs. Before this church had been construct, the Armenians were interned beside the Roman Catholic Church at Tejgaon. The church was completed in 1781 and consecrated by His Grace Bishop Ephreim.

The belfry was admitted in 1837 through donations of another merchant, Johannes Carapiet Sarkies. In the fifty years following the church’s construction, a clock tower was situated on its western side. Allegedly, the clock could be heard four miles away, and people used to synchronize their watches with the sound of the tower’s bell. The clock stopped in 1880, and an earthquake destroyed the tower in 1897. In 1910, a parsonage was added and the floor of the church was decorated with marble, and electric lights, a donation by Arathoon Stephen of Calcutta.

The plan of the Armenian church is rectangular. Features include an arched gate and an arched door. There are four doors and 27 windows. The main floor is divided into three parts: a pulpit enclosed by railings, a middle section with two folding doors, and an area separated by a wooden fence for seating women and children. There is a spiral staircase into the church.

In the old graveyard, in the 350 people buried there, a statue stands at the grave of Catachik Avatik Thomas, portraying his wife. The statue was bought from Kolkata and the grave is inscribed with the words “Best of Husbands.”

The church in present days:

Today, the Armenian church at Dhaka in Bangladesh is usually closed. The  Armenian that takes cares of the church is Mikel Housep Martirossian (Micheal Joseph Martin). He was one of the Armenian who was in the jute trade. It has been the subject of BBC and AFP documentaries and has received recognition from the Bangladesh government as an archaeological subject under the jurisdiction of the department of architecture.

Have you ever tourist the Armenian Church in Dhaka? How amazing have you found it? Share your experience with us in comments!

you might also be interested in reading another tourism spots in Bangladesh like Sundarbans , Jaflong to click here.