New Milford to host Benefit Night for Armenian Church in Dikranagerd

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Benefit Night to raise funds to restore the St. Giragos Armenian Church in Dikranagerd (Diyarbakır, Turkey) will take place on May 14, at Hovnanian Banquet Hall in New Milford, NJ.

The evening will feature lively Armenian music by Onnik Dinkjian and his band, dinner, and information about the much-needed renovations to the St. Giragos Armenian Church. In attendance will be Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern); Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate; Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople; and Garen Nazarian, Armenia’s ambassador to the UN.

The Benefit Night will serve as an opportunity for the St. Giragos Church Restoration Committee (Eastern USA) to familiarize guests with the pressing reasons to save this symbolic church. Originally constructed in the 15th century, the church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1880 after a fire, which made it the largest Armenian basilica in Anatolia to this day. The first bell tower of the church was built in 1884 (cast by the world famous Zildjian Company), making it the tallest structure in Dikranagerd. Renowned for having seven altars signifying eternity in the Armenian alphabet, the church can accommodate more than 2,500 faithful during services, The Armenian Weekly reported.