THE HISTORY OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH

The Diocese of the Armenian Church in North America, was established by an encyclical issued by the 125th Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, H.H. MKRTICH "KHRIMIAN Hayrig" (father)of blessed memory, of Van, in 1898. The Church in North America has since grown into three separate dioceses, the Eastern, the Western and the Canadian Diocese.

Armenian Church History
The Armenians were the first nation to adopt Christianity as State religion in AD 301 by the conversion and baptism of King Trdat III, before which Christians were subject to persecution and martyrdom. The originators of Christian preaching and mission in Armenia were none other than 2 of Christ's Twelve, Sts. Thaddeus (AD 35-43) and Bartholomew (AD 44-60). The Armenian Church is therefore of Apostolic origin and, although independent hierarchically, remains part of the "one, holy, apostolic, orthodox church," with whom it shares the common faith, and apostolic character. The conversion of Armenia in AD 301, predating St. Constantine's Edict of Milan issued in AD 313, was authored by the "father" of the Armenian Church, St. Gregory of Partev, known as "the Illuminator," the one who brought the "light" of Christ's Gospel to the Armenian people. As the "Chosen of God," St. Gregory having received episcopal ordination, became the chief bishop of the Armenians. Because at the time Armenia did not comprise part of the Roman Empire, it remained independent of the "organization" of established "patriarchates," whose ecclesiastical influence were confined to their political district. St. Gregory, to whom is ascribed the order and the organization of the Armenian Church, not only directed the Armenian Church in Orthodox doctrine and practice for some 25 years, but his mission work resulted in the conversion of Georgia. He also established the centre of the Armenian Church in Vagharshapat, which was renamed Etchmiadzin, which means "the only-begotten descended," because of a miraculous vision where our Lord showed him where to build His Church. The Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, the home of the catholicosate of All-Armenians, was and is the first Christian cathedral built in AD 303. It is with Etchmiadzin that the names of Sts. Mesrob Mashtots and Sahak Partev are connected, the founders of the Armenian alphabet and translators of the Bible and the writings of the many Church Fathers, Greek and Syriac. It continues to be a sight of sacred pilgrimage for both Armenians and non-Armenian Christians alike.

St. Mary Church was built and consecrated in 1930ad. It was home originally to the immigrants and survivors of "old" Armenia. The Turks having massacred 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 to 1923. Many of the survivors settled on the friendly and hospitable shores of the United States of America, having arrived at Ellis Island, and eventually settling in Newark. The church will soon be renovated and receiving much needed facilities and full accessibility for the physically challenged with an annex that houses offices and classrooms for the moral, ethical and religious education of the faithful. She is now mother to the third generation following the initial founders of the church. The sanctuary is traditionally Armenian with a high altar, under a great arched stasis out of which peers toward the faithful, the Icon of the Theotokos (Asdvadsadsin), Mother of God, who is seated above the stepped Table of Oblation where the Eucharist is offered every Sunday, whereby the faithful can commune with the Lord, God Jesus Christ who is sacramentally and truly present in His Word and Sacraments. The current pastor is the grandson of survivors of the first genocide of this century. Fr. Shnork is the first Canadian born priest serving the Armenian Church.