His Eminence Cardinal Gregory Peter XV Agagianian, Catholicos Patriarch of all Armenian Catholics of Cilicia, was the driving force responsible for founding an Armenian Catholic Church in the West Coast of the United States, in Los Angeles, California, in 1952.
At the request of His Eminence, Father Michael Akian, a Mekhitarist Father of Vienna, came to start a new mission in Los Angeles by ministering to the local Armenian Catholic community as well as to a large population of Armenian refugees, who had recently migrated from Germany.
While Father Akian’s early years in Los Angeles were very difficult, the assistance and counsel of Cardinal James Francis Mcintyre, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Los Angeles, blessed him. Cardinal Mcintyre presented to Father Akian and his congregation a church at 1327 Pleasant Avenue in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles.
Within a short period of time, the new Armenian Catholic congregation which previously worshiped at various Roman Catholic parishes, started to renovate their parish church to tailor it for celebration of the beloved Armenian liturgy. Father Akian and his parishioners worked very hard. Father Akian and his Community members named the church Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, in the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. In 1956, Cardinal Mcintyre officiated at the opening of the Church and was graced by the presence His Excellency Archbishop Mesrob Habozian Abbot General of the Mekhitarist Fathers of Vienna. After 12 years of dedicated, tireless and unselfish ministry, Father Michael Akian was transferred to the Mekhitarist monastery in Vienna, where he took charge of the seminary. Father Clement Morian, who continued the mission of his predecessor for the next 12 years, succeeded Father Akian as pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Los Angeles.
In 1976, Father Michael came back to Los Angeles and again assumed his role as Pastor by 1987 and because of the rapidly growing Armenian Catholic Community in Los Angeles. Father Akian was assigned two assistants, Father Krikor Heboyan, a talented professional musician and artist, and Father Parsegh Ferhatian.
During the second term of Father Akian’s mission in Los Angeles, in 1979, the Mekhitarist Fathers of Vienna established an elementary school. Soon thereafter, in 1985 the Armenian Catholic Sisters of the Immaculate Conception founded an elementary school. At the same time, Father Ferhatian introduced the Armenian language “Verelk” magazine. The first printing of “Verelk,” 2500 copies, focused on the moral, social and educational aspects of Armenian society. This revolutionary work impressed the church members and inspired them to become more enthusiastic and proud of their Armenian identity.
Reverend Father Mesrob Topalian followed Father Akian as Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, and was assisted by Father Heboyan and Father Ferhatian. Father Topalian renovated part of the church hall and improved the parking area. In addition, he started the “Avedaper” weekly brochure. After four years, newly appointed Pastor Father Raphael Minassian succeeded Father Topalian, in 1991. Father Minassian was the first missionary from the Ardzivian Patriarchal Congregation of Bzommar to live and work in Los Angeles, California.
Father Raphael’s pastoral mission was difficult, in the beginning. As a member of a different
Congregation, he was not easily accepted by Bishop Setian and the Armenian Catholic community of Los Angeles. However, Father Minassian’s unending perseverance, deep patience and dedication slowly mended the relationship.
The large immigrant population of Armenians from the Middle East, especially from civil war torn Lebanon, was not sufficiently housed at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs. As a result, Father Raphael planned for a new church to satisfy the needs of the Armenian Catholic community of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Father Minassian was confronted with endless criticism and obstacles; but with the support of the original parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, primarily the Armenian Catholics of Montebello, and many other people of good will, in September of 1997, began to develop another parish intended to provide spiritual cultural and educational benefits.
From the moment of his arrival in Los Angeles, Father Minassian’s apostolate was dedicated to the pastoral and social activities of the Armenian Catholic Community. He is credited with renewing the enthusiasm and spirit of the faithful he served.
On Januaary 14,1994, for the first time in the history of the Armenian Catholics of Los Angeles Karekin II Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, visited all clergy and community members of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Armenian Catholic Church. During this visit Karekin II mentioned in his discourse “What ever we are, Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, or Evangelical, the only satisfaction we have, is that we are the descendents of one belief in God, one Nation and one Armenian identity .”
On April 24th of the same year, the Armenian Catholic Community and youth held a commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at Glendale High School’s auditorium. Representatives of all churches and political groups, as well as 1300 spectators attended
the ceremony.
On April 26, 1995, His Beatitude John Peter XVIII Kasparian Catholicos Patriarch of all Armenian Catholics of Cilicia, made an official visit to US and to California.
In April 29,1995, Catholicos Kasparian Ordained Msgr. Tertsakian as Bishop to the United States and Canada.
The Episcopal Ordination was held at Holy Family Church in Glendale California, with the presence of Cardinal Roger Mahoney, Apostolic Church Archbishops and representatives of the diplomatic corps as well as local representatives of the Armenian political organizations. In conjunction with this occasion, His Beatitude gave a press conference on May 3rd, expressing the need for cooperation between Armenians as one family member.
In July 1997, an Armenian Catholic Church Convention was held in Los Angeles, at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs church hall. The purpose of the convention was to study spiritual, social and cultural issues relevant to the Armenian Church in the United States. Among those in attendance were five clergy and 70 lay representatives from Arizona, Nevada and California. To assist with a rapidly growing and busy schedule of pastoral duties, Father Minassian passed the day- to- day responsibility for Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church to Father Andon Panossian. This move was intended to facilitate the establishment and renovation of a new church organization in Glendale, California.
In 1998, Father Antranig Atamian arrived in Los Angeles to assist at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church. Soon thereafter, Father Atamian was transferred to Philadelphia. Today, the acting Pastor in residence at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church is Rev. Andon Panossian.
