St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church (Watertown, MA)

06/09/2026

Summer is here!

Join us summer long for great food and great fellowship! Details and information to follow.

06/06/2026

On this day….

70 years ago on this day, June 6, 1956, the groundbreaking and blessing of the foundation of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church took place, marking a new chapter for the faithful of our community.

The official consecration of the completed structure, presided by Archbishop Khoren Paroyan, Nuncio of His Holiness Zareh I of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, would take place in October of 1957.

Our parish, congregating since the 1930s, has been a beacon of dedicated service to God, the Armenian nation, and the local community for a century.

We look forward to this milestone anniversary - 70 years since the founding of its permanent home - for what will be a year's worth of activities, events, and celebrations.

A milestone, that isn’t solely about the physical church, but the people that have brought God’s sanctuary to life and purpose over the decades.

Looking forward to celebrating together.

05/27/2026

Chamlian School of Los Angeles Visits St. Stephen’s

The Chamlian Armenian School of Los Angeles visited St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church during their trip to Boston this week, where they were warmly welcomed by Hayr Hrant, who shared a brief history of the Church’s founding and the broader story of the Armenian community in the Greater Boston area.

Students and parents engaged in a thoughtful Q&A before enjoying a tour of the “island,” followed by a delicious lunch at the agoump. We are honored and grateful to have meaningful institutions such as the Hairenik and the Armenian Museum of America—along with other vital community landmarks—who also serve as enriching hosts for our visiting students.

05/21/2026

05/20/2026

Congratulations to our Sunday School Graduates!

On Sunday, we were honored to bestow graduation certificates to three Sunday School students: Armen Vartanian, Narineh Mardiros, and Zareh Mikaelian (not pictured).

All three graduates also received the Rose Krikorian Sunday School award. This $1,000 award is given to eligible graduates based on successful completion of the Sunday School program, service hours during junior and senior year, and a brief application.

Students received their certificates of advancement, attendance awards, and our preschool kindergarten students received their Bibles!

We are honored to have this pivotal role in the shaping our students’ faith and their lifelong connection to the Armenian Apostolic Church and St. Stephen’s.

Congratulations to all of our families who are steadfast in instilling spiritual growth and service to the church and community in their children.

Sunday School resumes September 13!

05/17/2026

(English below)
ԱՆՈՒՇԱՒԱՆ ԱՐՔԵՊԻՍԿՈՊՈՍ ԱՌԱՋՆՈՐԴ ՎԵՐԸՆՏՐՈՒԵՑԱՒ
Շաբաթ, 16 Մայիսին, իր աւարտին հասաւ Հիւսիսային Ամերիկայի Արեւելեան Թեմի Ազգային Երեսփոխանական Ժողովը երեք օրուան աշխատանքներէ ետք։ Ժողովը վերընտրեց Թեմիս բարեջան Առաջնորդ՝ Գերշ. Տ. Անուշաւան Արքեպիսկոպոսը, պաշտօնավարութեան երրորդ քառամեակի մը համար։ Ընտրութիւնը պէտք է վաւերացուի Մեծի Տանն Կիլիկիոյ Կաթողիկոս Ն.Ս.Օ.Տ.Տ. Արամ Ա. Վեհափառի կողմէ։ Գերաշնորհ Սրբազան Հայրը Թեմակալ Առաջնորդն է 2018-էն ի վեր։
Երեսփոխանական Ժողովի եզրափակիչ նիստին տեղի ունեցան նաեւ Ազգային Վարչութեան Կրօնական եւ Քաղաքական Ժողովներու մասնակի ընտրութիւններ։ Կրօնական Ժողովի անդամներ ընտրուեցան Գերպ. Տ. Հրանդ Ծ. Վրդ. Թահանեան եւ Արժպ. Տ. Դանիէլ Քհն. Մանճիկեան, իսկ Քաղաքական Ժողովի անդամներ՝ գնդ. Արամ Սարաֆեան (վերընտրեալ), Բարշ. Յակոբ Ա. Սրկ. Խաչատուրեան (վերընտրեալ), Ռաֆֆի Սամքիրանեան եւ Ալպըրթ Սուլթանեան։ Այս ընտրութիւններն ալ ենթակայ են Վեհափառ Հայրապետի վաւերացման։

ARCHBISHOP ANOUSHAVAN WAS REELECTED PRELATE
The National Representative Assembly of the Eastern Prelacy of the United States ended on Saturday, May 16, after three days of deliberations. His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, was reelected for a third term of four years, pending approval by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia. Archbishop Anoushavan has headed the Prelacy since 2018.
During the final session of the National Representative Assembly, there were also partial elections for the Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy. New members of the Religious Council are Very Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian and Rev. Fr. Taniel Manjikian, while Col. Aram Sarafian, Archdeacon Hagop Khatchadourian (incumbents), Raffi Samkiranian, and Albert Soultanian were elected to the Executive Council. These elections are also pending approval by His Holiness.

05/15/2026

2026 National Representatives Assembly Convenes

The 2026 National Representatives Assembly of the Eastern Prelacy convened in New York on Thursday, May 15. Hayr Hrant and members of our parish are participating as parish delegates, members of the Prelacy Executive Council, and World Assembly delegates. Together, they are engaged in a series of discussions and deliberations examining the Prelacy’s past and present work, while also shaping its vision and priorities for the year ahead.

05/13/2026

Calling all Datevstis! Save the Date!

DATEV INSTITUTE TO MARK ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

This year, the St. Gregory of Datev Institute celebrates its 40th anniversary. On Tuesday, May 5, the 40th Anniversary Committee held its first meeting to begin planning the celebration of this important milestone. Committee members representing different parishes and generations of Datevatsis gathered under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, with the participation of the Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, Director of the Institute. During the meeting, His Eminence appointed Dr. Anoosh Kouyoumdjian and Liza Yessayan as co-chairs of the committee.

As part of the anniversary observance, the committee is planning a commemorative banquet to be held at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey, on Saturday, September 19.

05/11/2026

Graduation Season Is Here!

04/28/2026

2026 Commemoration Events in Honor of 111th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

This weekend, our community gathered to mark the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Notably, on Friday, hundreds assembled at the Massachusetts State House for the annual remembrance ceremony, held in partnership with local and state officials. The program opened with a prayer led by Archbishop Richard Henning of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, joined by clergy from Armenian churches across the state. The moving program featured reflections from long‑standing political advocates and humanitarian activists, including keynote speaker Dr. Jermaine McCalpin, internationally recognized expert and consultant on transitional justice, genocides and reparations. Attendees were also reminded of the richness of Armenian culture through musical selections performed by local choirs and students from Armenian schools.

Commemoration activities continued on Sunday, April 26, at the Armenian Heritage Park in downtown Boston. The program opened with a prayer led by our pastor Hayr Hrant Tahanian, and all the area clergy. Three young Artsakhtsi shared firsthand accounts of their experiences during the Artsakh war and exodus, and reflected on how these were the continuation of the 1915 genocide. Once again, our culture and survival was displayed through the talent of local youth.

We continue, as Armenians, to persevere, regardless of any new challenges, and continue the fight for justice and reparations.