History

Thanks to the efforts of early Armenian settlers in Melbourne, some 200 people, Armenians became the proud owners of a Church in North Fitzroy.

On Palm Sunday, 15th April 1962, St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church was consecrated by His Grace, Bishop Assoghig Ghazarian and Rev. Aramais Mirzayan with attendances of Australian council of Churches and others.

On Palm Sunday, 15th April 1962, St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church was consecrated by His Grace, Bishop Assoghig Ghazarian and Rev. Aramais Mirzayan with attendances of Australian council of Churches and others.

In September 1965, Very Rev. Father Voskan Kalpakian (now Archbishop) was appointed as the first Parish Priest for Melbourne. In the same year the Armenian Church became a member of the Australian Council of Churches and also was allocated a lawn cemetery at the Necropolis in Springvale.

The Church monthly “Hooyce” was founded and published by Very Rev. Father Voskan Kalpakian. In December of the same year, His Grace, Archbishop Karekin Kazandjian (then Bishop) was appointed Primate for Australia and New Zealand, thereby making this a separate Diocese in 1968.

Very Rev. Father Voskan Kalpakian and Mrs. Sirarpi Der Avedissian established St. Mary’s Armenian Church Sunday School (later know as Armenian Aginian School) which was formalized with the appointment of a School Committee.

Diocesan properties were transferred to the Diocese of The Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand (Properties Limited) which was incorporated under the companies Act of 1961. In the same year, Agnotz launched as the A.C.Y.O.’s magazine by Noubar Apakian and Nairi Bozajian.

Our first Parish Priest Very Rev. Father Voskan Kalpakian resigned.

Very Rev, Father Khatchadour Sarian was appointed Parish Priest for Melbourne.

Very Rev. Father Khatchadour Sarian resigned as Parish Priest of Melbourne and from the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

Rev. Father Nerses Krozian was appointed Parish Priest for Melbourne. In the same year, Armenian Church Ladies Guild, which had been operating in Melbourne since 1958, were given By-Laws.

The Surrey Hill Church was purchased, renovated and remodelled by professionals and many kind volunteers.

Noubar Apakian completed painting of The Church murals which he donated to The Church.

On Palm Sunday, 15 years to the day since the consecration of the Fitzroy Church, the new Church in Surrey Hills was consecrated by our Primate, Bishop Karekin Kazanjian.

The church Theatre Group “Massis” was launched with its first play “Tiv Hink Khelakare”.

Archbishop Kazanjian resigned as Primate of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

Very Rev. Father Aghan Baliozian was appointed Primate of Australia and New Zealand and ordained Bishop in 14th February 1982.

Community celebrated the 20th Anniversary of The Church and the elevation to Bishop of our Primate, His Grace Bishop Aghan Baliozian.

Armenian Aginian School building foundation laid in the presence of congregation members, government and Church dignitaries.