Saints Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church

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Saints Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church

Amen. In 1910, the first Ladies Aid Society was established with primary hopes of building a church. The church is a testament to their devotion and strong will.

As for us we shall glorify Him was before the ages, worshipping the Holy Trinity and the One God-head, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. History of Saint Vartanantz Armenian Church

By 1908, a courageous group of Armenian women realized the need for an organized Armenian community and started a women's social organization. In 1913, with the help o

f the Armenian men of the community, a building committee was formed. This committee raised enough funds to purchase a small parcel of land on Lawrence Street in Lowell. Their dream of building a church was finally realized in 1916 when the Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church was consecrated, making it one of the first Armenian churches built in America. Set high on the property , the church was a small brick building with an Armenian architectural bell tower. For nearly 60 years, this edifice was the center for all Armenians and served the spiritual, social, educational, and cultural needs of the Greater Lowell Armenian community. As the Armenian community continued to grow, parishioners began to move to other areas of Lowell and the church began to explore the possibilities of expansion. Under the pastorship of the Very Reverend Father Ghevont Samoorian, the parish decided to move from the site in the city to a new location in a nearby suburb. The new site consisted of a private school building located on l6 acres of land in Chelmsford, Massachusetts overlooking the hills of southern New Hampshire. In 1974, the parish moved into the new building and began their vigorous fund-raising campaign. A new building committee was established, and architect was hired, and construction of the new sanctuary began in 1976. During construction, church services were held in many different locations of the attached school complex, including the gymnasium and library. Finally in June of1l978, the Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church of Chelmsford, Massachusetts was completed and the consecration ceremonies were performed by His Eminence, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian.. The architectural design of the church is a replica of the old "Cathedral of Ani" in Armenia and is referred to as "Little Ani" by its parishioners. After a major modernization and renovation in 1990, the complex now consists of the church sanctuary, the parish offices, a pastor's study, numerous classrooms, a kitchen a library, Ghourgoian Dining Room, Kazanjian Memorial Ballroom, and a large outdoor area for picnics and social events. The Saints Vartanantz Armenian Church of Chelmsford is a tribute to the many dedicated, loyal and energetic men and women who unselfishly devoted their time, their tireless efforts, their souls for the love of their Armenian faith and tradition. With their continued allegiance and service it will thrive, prosper and flourish into the next century.

09/13/2026

Live event

09/12/2026

A special reminder for church families that Sunday School Registration and Opening Day is tomorrow at 10am!

Attention Church Families!

Sunday School Registration & Opening Day
Sunday, September 13th from 10am - 11am

For more information, please contact Susan at [email protected]

To Register, please visit:
https://stsvartanantz.com/index.php?option=com_sppagebuilder&view=page&id=90

09/11/2026

A Memorial Prayer for 9/11

Lord Jesus Christ our God, twenty-five years ago, in a dark hour for our beloved country of America, at a time of fear and turmoil, we turned to you for strength, understanding, and guidance. And again today, we ask you to hear our prayers. Remember the souls of all those who perished in the terrible calamities of September 11, 2001, in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Receive them into the peace of your heavenly kingdom, and never cease to console their loved ones, who will always look back with grief upon their losses. Bless, too, those who lost their lives or their loved ones in the quarter-century since that dreadful day. Tragically, casualties of injury, death, and misery continue down to our present day. We pray fervently for an end to violence everywhere, and the establishment of your peace among humankind.

09/10/2026

Save the date!
The 77th Annual Food Festival will be Saturday, November 21st!

09/08/2026

Blessing of Crosses - Sunday, September 13th

On this day the faithful are encouraged to bring their personal and/or household crosses (new and previously blessed) to the Church and place them on a special altar (under the dome of the Church) adorned with the Cross and festooned with sweet basil.

Every September, the Armenian Orthodox Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Holy Cross -- one of the five major feasts of the Orthodox Liturgical Year, and the most important of the four feasts of the Holy Cross. From the time of the Apostles, the Holy Cross was recognized as the symbol of salvation for all Christians.

The Exaltation, known as Khachverats in Armenian, is connected with several historical events, each of which involves the "raising up", "exalting" or glorification of the cross.

On this special day, the Church is prepared in festive decor, and a special cross is placed under the dome - the center of the world in the architectural symbolism of the church. The cross is decorated with sweet basil - and the sanctuary is filled with this herbal fragrance. One of the additional services offered on this day is the "Blessing of the Four Corners of the Earth" (Antasdan), also known as the "Blessing of the Fields". This Service bring the clergy and the faithful together as it is performed in the midst of the congregation, with a gospel reading and prayer at each side of the sanctuary, followed by the entire Church responding with a spirited "Amen; Alleluia; Alleluia; Alleluia!"

09/04/2026

Fall 2026 Church Calendar 🍂

09/03/2026

📣A Special Announcement 📣
Morning Service - September 6

A morning service will be conducted on Sunday, September 6 beginning at 10 a.m. by our church deacons

09/01/2026

Annual Armenian-American Veterans Scholarship Night

On Thursday, August 20th, the Armenian-American Veterans of Lowell, Sam Manoian Post #1, held its Annual Scholarship Night. Following dinner, the following area college students were presented with a scholarship: Brian Ajemian, Stephanie Arustamyan, Jenna Baccari, Armen Kourkounian, and Nickolas Ara Regas.

Since the Armenian-American Veterans of Lowell began awarding scholarships in 1990, approximately $225,000 has been given to some 230 students.

Missing from the photo: Brian Ajemian, Stephanie Arustamyan, and Nickolas Regas

08/31/2026

Parish News: A Super THANK YOU to the 2026 Picnic Committee

On Tuesday, August 25th, an Appreciation Night was held to express a super “Thank You” to a hardworking dedicated picnic committee. With the final numbers processed, the 2026 picnic was a record-setting resounding success. Hundreds of hours of preparation truly paid off.

Following a pizza-salad, Father Khachatur opened the post-picnic discussion with a heartfelt thank you to the co-chairs, Gagik and Richard, and to all the volunteers both present and those unable to attend the Appreciation Night. He stressed that the wonderful team spirit demonstrated by a highly diverse group of volunteers created an inspirational ministry of service. A lively discussion followed where volunteers offered a wide range of suggestions to improve the 2027 picnic.

Address

180 Old Westford Road
Chelmsford, MA
01824

Telephone

+19782567234

Website

http://www.stsvartanantz.com/

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