Western Diocese

Staff

Dn. Berj Manoogian, Parish Council Chair

About St. Apkar Armenian Church

About St. Apkar Armenian Church

The first gathering of Armenians in Arizona took place in 1957 with the purpose of forming a local chapter of the AGBU.   A "Bishop's Committee" was established by His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, then Primate of the Western Diocese.  On October 16, 1963 the Armenian Church of Maricopa County was formally incorporated.

The Armenian Ladies' Society was established in 1978 by Ann Chakmakjian, Laura Gorgorian, Sylvia Hagopian, Julia Karam, Emma Melikian, Myrna Saraydar and Gini Topalian.

In 1982, through the donation by the Hosepian family of a two-acre parcel of land, the Church acquired the future site of St. Apkar.  Later, they donated an additional 3 acres for the complex.

Thanks to the able leadership of successive Chairmen of the Bishop's Committee and of the Parish Council, for almost twenty years the Armenian Church of Arizona dedicated itself to raising the necessary funds to construct a church.  Between 1984 and 1989, architectural plans were drawn and construction planning began for the Cultural Center that would serve as the home base for the Arizona faithful.  The Divine Liturgy began to be celebrated on a monthly basis.  The parish relied on the assistance and counsel of dedicated visiting clergy including the late Archpriest Fr. Levon A.K. Arakelian and Archpriest Fr. Shahe A.K. Altounian, among others.

The ACYO Arizona Chapter was established in 1985 by Betty Kurkjian.

In 1991 ground was broken for a 14,000 square foot, $850,000 cultural center. Construction was completed the following year.  The dedication of the Armenian Church Cultural Center and Melikian Hall took place on January 12, 1992, officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Vatché Hovsepian, Primate of the Western Diocese.  On May 13, 1995 a donation of $350,000 from Alex and Marie Manoogian facilitated the burning of the mortgage.

In 1996, the Parish Organizations already in existence were joined by "Hye-Ways", a new group created by Victoria Manoogian to honor and perpetuate the Armenian culture and religion.  Mrs. Manoogian also created the parish's newsletter, The Jarakite, in 1997.

The Armenian Educational and Social Center ("The Upper Room") was opened by His Eminence Archbishop Vatché Hovsepian on February 12, 2000.  It houses the Nikit and Eleanora Ordjanian Library, the Karam ACYO Center, and the Der Levon A.K. and Yeretsgin Grace Arakelian Memorial Collection.

In May 2001 His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, paid a pontifical visit to the Arizona Parish.  He returned for a second Pontifical Visit on June 16, 2005 when the Ground Blessing was held.  The Godfather for the Ground Blessing of the new church was Napoleon Boretti.  The Ground Breaking was held on June 15, 2008.

In July 2007, the Arizona Parish welcomed its new permanent Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Zacharia Saribekyan.   Also in that year, AMen, the Men's Organization of the parish, was created by Victoria Manoogian and founded by Rev. Fr. Zacharia Saribekyan and Deacon Berj Manoogian.

St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church was consecrated on September 20, 2009 by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese.  The Godfathers of St. Apkar are: St. Peter - The Hosepian Sisters & Scott and Tricia McWorther; St. Gregory the Illuminator - Mr. & Mrs. Gregory and Emma Melikian; St. Matthew - Mr. Jack Shahbazian, Sr.; St. Mark - Dn. & Mrs. Berj and Victoria Manoogian; St. Luke - Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Anush Sahakian; St. John - Dr. & Mrs. Thaddeus and Andrea Khachaturian; St. Paul - The Armenian Ladies' Society; St. Thomas - Julia Karam; St. James Alpheus - Dr. & Mrs. Raffy and Mary Safarian; St. James Zebedee - Mr. & Mrs. Berge and Doreen Kaprelian; St. Andrew - Mr. & Mrs. Karekin and Zhanet Kaprelian; St. Phillip - Mr. & Mrs. Jim and Shoushan Shahbazian, Jr.; St. Gregory - Dn. Dr. & Mrs. Stepan and Mariam Ovanessoff; St. Simeon Cananaean - Mr. & Mrs. James and Anna Melikian; St. Bartholomew - The Hye-Ways Group;  and St. Thaddeus - The ACYO.  The Junior Godfathers are Ani Ehramjian, Armen and Shooshan Kaprelian, Tamar and Arka Mardirossian, Daniella Kaprelian, Rafaella Safarian, Kimberly Artounian, Noubar and Rossleen Manoogian, Stephen and Isabelle Sirounian, Natalie Zarasian, Daron Kuehn, Brad Khnanisho, and Andre Khachaturian Rivera. 

The dome crosses were installed on December 11, 2009.  Interior finishing of the sanctuary is being done: the travertine floors, pews, altar ganteghs and curtain, and the sound system have been installed.  The Priest's Room and Choir Room were created and there have been other recent improvements to the complex.  Work on the chandeliers and wall murals will begin soon.

Currently, St. Apkar Parish has been working hard to pay off its remaining mortgage on the sanctuary.  Once that is done, other planned buildings on the St. Apkar Complex will be built including a senior living facility and a sports field.