Wooster is Haleb

Vahe H. Apelian

 

In a commentary about a segment of Antranig Zarougian’s book “ Yerazayin Haleb - Dreamy Allepo” I had translated and posted in Keghart.com, Viken L. Attarian from Canada noted the following: “Haleb is undoubtedly a milestone in the evolution of our Armenian Diasporan identity of the post-Genocide period.  I believe that it is there that the future community of Beirut was forged.  And from then on to the different realities of our existence in the West.  In the great migration of our people, Haleb was the first place of a Great Gathering after the initial murderous big bang of the Great Dispersion. The above applies to all aspects of community life, whether they be historical, cultural, political, artistic, literary, and so on.  This is not to minimize the roles of other places.  Far from it. But, if there are temporal and geographic points of reference around which our existence coalesced after 1915, Haleb was surely the first.”

By the same token, if there is a temporal and a geographical point of refence about which the Armenian American existence coalesces in the New World, that undoubtedly would be Worcester, MA, made famous by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian’s book titled “Worcester is America". The book's title is an actual recorded quote. In fact, it was the author Deranian who told me that.  When an immigration officer on the Ellis Island welcomed an Armenian immigrant to America, the person’s response was, «No, no, Worcester is America». His remark came to define Worcester, MA as the epicenter of the Armenian immigration to the United States dating well before the genocide. 

St. Savior Armenian Apostolic Church

The oldest Armenian church in the Western Hemishpher is credited to be the Saint Savior (Sourp Prgitch) Armenian Apostolic Church in Worcester, MA. It was erected in 1891. In 1952 the church was moved to its present location on Salisbury Street. In 1898, Catholicos of Khrimian Hayrig established the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in America, which remained stationed in Worcester, MA for the next two decades or so, until it was moved to New York City.

The Armenian Church of the Martyrs

But the first Armenian church, as a body of believers, is credited to the Armenian Evangelical community in Worcester, MA. A plaque in the church noting the milestones of the church notes that “in 1881 – commenced with a prayer meeting at the Home of Mr. and Mrs. Hovhanes Yaziijian”. In 1892 the believers organized and established themselves as a Congregational Church. On December 1, 1901, they dedicated the sanctuary they built as The Armenian Church of the Martyrs in memory of the martyrs of the Hamidian massacre. In this very church the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America (AEUNA) was established in 1902, and the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) was established in 1918. The church on Osmond Street, is the oldest Armenian church in the Western Hemisphere that is still in use.

Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church

The Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church affiliated with the Catholicosate of Cilicia was established in 1947 at its present location on Grove Street. 

The three churches are within a few miles to each other.

The following three books paint a captivating picture of the Worcester Armenian community. The first written is “Sacrifice and Redemption” by Marion Der Kazarian. The book is a personal memoir that was published in 1995. The author, nee Der Harootunian, was born on April 5, 1909 in Ashodavan, Armenia and came to America with her mother, brothers  and sisters in 1921 and “settled in Worcester, Massachusetts, the New World’s mecca for Armenian immigrants." 

“Worcester is America” by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian was published in 1998. The commentaries of the book note that “it is richly detailed illustrated study of the early Armenian community in Worcester” and “a dramatic tale of ferocious conflicts and fierce loyalties, told with remarkable gentleness and candor.” 

“Armenians of Worcester” by Pamela E. Apkarian-Russel was published in 2000. It is about the Armenians who found refuge in Worcester, MA and became an integral part of Worcester culture and history.

The Worcester Armenian community is distinct and a unique community, where up to third generation Armenian Americans continue to perpetuate the legacy their forefathers entrusted to them and sustain the institutions of the community.

The other day, on the way to my dental appointment, a seven miles long stretch of a few interconnecting roads; it dawned on me that there are two farms with distinct Armenian names. They are the Davidian's Farm and the Berberia's Farm. They captured my attention, and I became reflective of the Worcester Armenian community. On that spur of the moment, the two farms made the history of the Armenian community in Worcester MA, more palpable to me. 

I thought of capturing a glimpse of the community in this blog.