The consecration of Orlando’s new Soorp Haroutiun Armenian Church last weekend closed one chapter in a community’s longstanding building project – an initiative launched in central Florida by a small but determined mission parish two-and-a-half decades ago – and opened a new chapter involving the development of a rich, full-fledged parish life.
The consecration weekend began on Saturday, June 5, with the traditional Turenpatzek (or door-opening) Service. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), assisted by four clergy – the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral and coordinator of the consecration services; the Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian, pastor of St. Hagop Church of St. Petersburg, Fla.; the Rev. Fr. Vartan Joulfayan, pastor of St. Mary Church of Hollywood, Fla.; and the Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, pastor of St. Mary Church of Livingston, N.J. – kneeled before the church doors and knocked on the portal three times in a symbolic gesture asking the Lord to “open to us this door of thy mercy.”
The Primate then led a procession into the church, where some 250 people gathered to witness the historic moment. “What a glorious day this is – a day of joy and pride for the city of Orlando, for the people of this parish and its leaders, for your generous benefactors, for myself and for our entire Diocese,” Archbishop Barsamian said.
“It’s a miracle that in nine months this church was built on land where there was nothing,” he added, congratulating parish leaders, benefactors Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan and their family, and all community members who helped realize the dream of erecting an Armenian church in the area. A reception followed in the church hall.
On Sunday, June 6, Archbishop Barsamian officially consecrated the new house of worship, anointing with holy muron (oil) the altar, baptismal font, and pillars of the sanctuary. The church was named Soorp Haroutiun Armenian Church: “Holy Resurrection.” “Haroutiun” was also the name of Hratch Toufayan’s late father.
The consecration fell on the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin, a day commemorating St. Gregory the Illuminator’s vision of Christ striking the ground with a golden hammer and instructing Gregory to erect a church on the site. St. Gregory proclaimed to the Armenian people, “Come, let us build the holy altar of light, for in it light shines on us in the land of Armenia.”
In his sermon, Archbishop Barsamian reminded the faithful that 1,700 years ago the people of Armenia responded to St. Gregory’s call by erecting the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. That initial step launched what would become a rich tradition of building churches throughout Armenia, and later, in the diaspora, the Primate said.
Archbishop Barsamian stressed that it is the spirit of the Armenian people – their unfailing commitment to their Christian faith – that has illuminated these places of worship and continues to do so to this day.
“The altar of light is not just a structure of stone and marble, but it is something bigger,” he said. “It is the light in each of us, brought together in imitation of Christ. Ultimately, we are the light of the world.”
He went on to speak about ways the Armenian Christian faith empowered Armenians in the face of persecution and oppression. From the 5th-century Battle of Avarayr to the 20th-century marches through the desert of Der Zor and the irreligiousness characterizing the Communist era, the Armenian faith has remained firm in the hearts of its people, he said.
“The survivors of these dark episodes in our history always continued to build new churches,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “And today, the Armenian community in Orlando is likewise responding to St. Gregory’s call: ‘Come, let us build the holy altar of light.’”
A bridge across generations
The consecration service concluded with the first celebration of the Divine Liturgy at St. Haroutiun Church. The choir members, altar servers, and parishioners of the local Armenian churches participated in the services. Also serving on the altar were the grandchildren of Hratch Toufayan, the church’s main godfather. Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, coordinator of Music Ministry at the Diocese, led the singing of the hymns.
Guests then gathered at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel, part of the Walt Disney Resort complex, for a celebratory banquet.
Addressing the gathering, His Excellency Ambassdor Tatoul Markarian, Armenia’s ambassador to the United States, congratulated the Orlando parish on its remarkable accomplishment. “Undoubtedly, building a new Armenian church is a sign of the vitality of the Armenian community of the greater Orlando area,” he said. “It means our next generations will be not only well-established and loyal citizens of this great country, but also dedicated representatives of our nation and our church, and great compatriots of our homeland, Armenia.”
“May this wonderful community and the church flourish to the benefit of Armenia and the entire Armenian nation,” he added.
Diocesan Council chair Oscar Tatosian spoke about the faith and commitment of the Orlando parish. “This church was built on a thousand individual acts of faith, by contributions bold and subtle,” he said. “What we celebrate today is not the building, but the new community of faithful – a community that is a bridge from our faithful ancestors to a generation not yet born.”
Also representing the Diocesan Council was vice chair Dr. Raffy Hovanessian.
The program featured performances by guest soloist Maro Partamian and pianist Sara Nazarian. Samantha George played the viola.
Serving spiritual needs
St. Haroutiun Church had its beginnings in 1985, when then-Primate Archbishop Torkom Manoogian established a mission parish in the Orlando area and the community began considering the construction of a church.
A five-acre plot was purchased in 1993, and a smaller purchase followed three years later. As property values rose, the parish council decided to sell both parcels and purchase a third section of land on which to build the new church. The sale, completed in 2005, helped the community raise money for construction costs.
Designed by the late Ramon H. Hovsepian of Worcester, Mass., the new church would feature a copper dome and elements of traditional Armenian Church architecture. The house of worship would, first and foremost, serve the community’s spiritual needs. But organizers hoped it would also become an important cultural beacon, inspiring its members to carry forth the Armenian language and traditions.
A little more than a year ago, the Orlando parish received the final permit needed to proceed with the project. Construction began last August, with the official groundbreaking and cornerstone-blessing ceremony taking place on September 27.
It was also on that day that Archbishop Barsamian announced that the Toufayan family of New Jersey had pledged $750,000 for the church. Longtime supporters of the Eastern Diocese and the global Armenian Church, Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan run a bakery in Orlando, and their son, Greg Toufayan, sometimes serves on the altar at the Orlando
parish.
Other godfathers of the new church include:
Richard Bargamian, Charles and Sara Chemenian, Ethel Duffett, Dr. Albert G. Eckian, Haig Hagopian, Lucine Mardirosian-Harvey, Dr. Michael Keotahlian, John Shahinian, Simon Tashjian, Samuel Vardanian, Marietta Vazquez, Drs. Aram and Aida Tchobanian, and Jerry L. Youderian. In addition, hundreds of others have volunteered their services over the years to ensure the success of the initiative.
Parishioners also noted the contributions of Lucine Mardirosian-Harvey, who has been involved with the project since its earliest days, attending countless planning and zoning board meetings and helping gather support for the undertaking.
“We accomplished what we set out to do,” she said, adding that the community would now focus on developing spiritual and educational programs to meet the needs of its members.
Ms. Mardirosian-Harvey was honored for her efforts at the consecration banquet, when Archbishop Barsamian presented her with the “St. Nersess Shnorhali” medal and pontifical encyclical issued by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
“It is a great joy for us that the Armenian community of Orlando, after many years of hard work and dedication, built this church,” the Catholicos wrote. “You, dear Lucine Mardirosian-Harvey, are among those who first initiated this undertaking, whose unshakable faith kept this community standing and inspired the sons and daughters of our people to take up responsibilities and to make sacrifices for this God-pleasing
project.”
His Holiness Karekin II urged the parish to “always tend to the well-being of Soorp Haroutiun Church with endless love and zeal, and preserve your national and spiritual life under her shadow.”
Also recognized at the banquet was parish council chair Aram Nazarian, who received the Diocese’s “St. Vartan Award.”
“It was a very emotional time,” Mr. Nazarian said of the consecration. He said that the parish is proud of its achievement, but aware of the work still ahead.
A diverse, growing community
Having a permanent place of worship will help centralize the parish’s ministry and make it easier to reach out to the local Armenian community, Mr. Nazarian said. In the works are plans to offer Bible study courses, strengthen the ACYOA, and create other church organizations. The church has already established an outreach committee to evaluate the needs of the community and to brainstorm ways to fulfill them.
Dr. Albert G. Eckian, who chairs the outreach committee and served as the master of ceremonies at the consecration banquet, said the community is diverse, with members representing Armenia and all parts of the diaspora, including Iran, Turkey, and South America, as well as various regions across the United States.
With an increase in the number of young families settling in the area in recent years, Dr. Eckian said “there is a great need for teaching not only the sacraments of the Armenian Church, but also its culture and language.”
“We know that everything will take a little bit of time,” Mr. Nazarian said. “With the direction of the Diocese, we hope to set goals and to work to attain them.”
In the coming months, the parish will continue to be served by visiting priests. In July, the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian and Sam Mikaelian, coordinator of development at the Diocese, are scheduled to conduct a workshop for the parish council on strategies for designing some of these new programs.
“I was pleased to be able to offer my services again to help a parish community realize its dream of consecrating an Armenian Church,” Fr. Chevian said. “Now it’s up to the community to give the edifice life and vitality.”
Parishioners say they have no doubt that the parish will blossom in the coming years.
“I am very optimistic that now that we have a church that reminds us of our Armenian roots and our Armenian homeland, it will become a focal point not only for the central Florida community, but for many visitors we have in Orlando,” Dr. Eckian said. “And I am optimistic that this church will grow in a much faster and rapid way.”
