Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church (New York City)
Encyclopedia
Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church is a significant Armenian Apostolic Church
in Washington Heights
, Manhattan
, New York City
at 580 West 187th Street. It occupies the former second location of the Lutheran church of The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour
, established in 1897 as a mission church of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and built in its second location at West 187th Street. The church building was built between 1925 to 1926 at a cost of $30,000 to designs by an architect Stoyan N. Karastoyanoff
of 220 Audubon Avenue. The Lutheran congregation moved into their parish house after the Great Depression and the church and the Armenian Apostolic Church
took over the church in 1929.
On December 24, 1933, a group of assassins attacked Eastern Diocese Archbishop Levon Tourian as he walked down the aisle of Holy Cross Armenian Church
in the Washington Heights
neighborhood of New York City during the Divine Liturgy, and killed him with a butcher knife
. Nine Tashnags were later arrested, tried and convicted. The incident divided the Armenian community, as Tashnag sympathizers established congregations independent of Etchmiadzin, declaring loyalty instead to the See based in Antelias in Lebanon. The division was formalized in 1956 when the Antelias (Cilisian) See broke away from the Echmiadzin See.
After the assassination, the church was reconsecrated, with a new crypt added in 1934 to designs by Manoug Exerjian
, who also refaced and renovated the church between 1952 and 1953.
in Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
, Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at 580 West 187th Street. It occupies the former second location of the Lutheran church of The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour
Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church (New York City)
Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church was a former Lutheran church in Manhattan, New York City at 578-580 West 187th Street. The church building built 1925 to 1926 at a cost of $30,000 to designs by an architect Stoyan N. Karastoyanoff of 220 Audubon Avenue. It was demolished and there is no...
, established in 1897 as a mission church of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and built in its second location at West 187th Street. The church building was built between 1925 to 1926 at a cost of $30,000 to designs by an architect Stoyan N. Karastoyanoff
Stoyan N. Karastoyanoff
Stoyan N. Karastoyanoff, AIA, was a minor American architect practicing in New York City in the early twentieth century. Little of his work is known and his career was severely affected and cut short by the Great Depression. He is best known as the architect of the current Holy Cross Armenian...
of 220 Audubon Avenue. The Lutheran congregation moved into their parish house after the Great Depression and the church and the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
took over the church in 1929.
On December 24, 1933, a group of assassins attacked Eastern Diocese Archbishop Levon Tourian as he walked down the aisle of Holy Cross Armenian Church
Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church (New York City)
Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church is a significant Armenian Apostolic Churchin Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City at 580 West 187th Street. It occupies the former second location of the Lutheran church of The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, established in 1897 as a mission church of...
in the Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
neighborhood of New York City during the Divine Liturgy, and killed him with a butcher knife
Butcher knife
A butcher knife is a knife designed and used primarily for the butchering and/or dressing of animals.During the late 18th century to mid 1840s, the butcher knife was a key tool for mountain men. Simple, useful and cheap to produce, they were used for everything from skinning beaver, cutting food,...
. Nine Tashnags were later arrested, tried and convicted. The incident divided the Armenian community, as Tashnag sympathizers established congregations independent of Etchmiadzin, declaring loyalty instead to the See based in Antelias in Lebanon. The division was formalized in 1956 when the Antelias (Cilisian) See broke away from the Echmiadzin See.
After the assassination, the church was reconsecrated, with a new crypt added in 1934 to designs by Manoug Exerjian
Manoug Exerjian
Manoug Exerjian was a Nassau County, New York architect, who came to Great Neck, New York, in 1923. A native of Istanbul, Turkey, he graduated from the Royal School of Architecture in Istanbul, in 1914...
, who also refaced and renovated the church between 1952 and 1953.