Armenian Church, Settlement and history in Surabaya Armenians first went to Java towards the end of the 18th century. They established several well known commercial houses engaged in trade with overseas markets.
Anywhere Armenians settle they build a church. In 1831 a famous Armenian merchant in Batavia Jacob Arrathoon, who represented the firm of Shamirians in India, erected a wooden church calling it the church of St Hripsima Later renamed the church of Holy Resurrection. Due to some cause which was never detected, the wooden church was damaged by fire in early 1844. Jacob Arrathoon quickly repaired the damage, but died shortly after on January 19. His widow Mary replaced the wooden church with one of stone and mortar and completed in 1854. and was renamed the church of St John.
Mrs Mary Arrathoon was generously assisted by her maiden sister Thagoohie Manook. Both sisters inherited the entire wealth of their bachelor brother George Manook, who had devoted a part oh this legacy towards construction of this stone church situated in a very central part of Batavia (Jakarta) on the crossroads of the famous Royal Park renamed Maidan Merdeka. The field of Freedom is one of the oldest Christian sanctuaries in Java. In1961 the new Indonesian government required the ground on which the Armenian Church stood since 1831. So the church was demolished. Only 20 people were left in Batavia (Jakarta) of the Armenian community after the exodus, what a sad day it was. The last church service was offered by Rev Aramais Mirzaian who had come from Sydney.
The Surabaya church was built by the same benevolent ladies and gentlemen who built the Armenian church of St John in Batavia. It was the centre of religious, social, educational, and national life of Armenians in Surabaya. Beside the church there were living quarters for the priest and his family. There was the Edgar Hall with a stage for performing stage plays, concerts, lecturers and singers coming sometimes from overseas. The Manook Arrathoon school had three classrooms were Armenian religion history was taught twice a week on Mondays, and Thursdays from 4-6 in the afternoons. Sunday school was also held there.
These traditions are kept and are followed today, such as Armenian Christmas on the 6th of January, which many non have Armenians ask why?
Because the Roman pagan festival of Saturnalia (Saturn) was celebrated from 21 to 25 December, the then Pope Julius I decreed in ordered the pagan festival to have a Christian setting that Christmas was be celebrated on the 25th December. His declaration spread throughout the Christian world, which adopted this date as Christmas Day from the year 334 A.D. But the Armenians continue to celebrate both the Birth and Baptism of Christ on the 6th of Jan the day of Epiphany which is in commemoration of manifestation of Christ to the three wise men of the east who followed the star that led them to the crib of Jesus the new born Prince of Peace. Birth being natural resurrection is a miracle. Hence the eastern churches consider Easter a greater festival than Christmas and it is celebrated accordingly.
Many members of the Armenian Church[disambiguation needed] are fasting for 40 days before Easter. Dairy and meat products are prohibited, strict vegetarian and vegan diet are followed.
The traditional Easter Eve meal is consisting of pilaf, herb omelet, and nazook (a kind of pastry) yoghurt, and the coloured eggs not chocolate. Cracking eggs this means new life that symbolizes the resurrection of Christ from the tombs the holy week starts on Palm Sunday, On of the biggest day is Monday and Thursday when the priest will wash children feet like Christ did before the last Supper in a mass which spans for almost four hours. The Armenian Apostolic church has seven sacraments namely:- 1. Baptism 2. Conformation 3. Penance 4. Holy Eucharist 5. Holy Matrimony 6. Holy Orders 7. Sacraments of the sick.
This should be adhered and preserved faithfully by the Armenian congregation.
The first principal of the Manook Arrathoon School was Mr. T. C. Jordan a studious person, mastery in Armenian had a good knowledge of Dutch, English and a fair bit of German and French. Author of the Armenians in the Netherlands Indies, written in Armenian vernacular printed in 1937 in Jerusalem. He was 76 yrs old when he wrote this book. It is pity, due to niggling dissensions this first and only edition of the book was not distributed or sold.
Mr. M. S. Marcar president then of the General Board of the Armenian community to Java who was in charge of the whole stock of the books died in the Japanese concentration camp at Bandung. Some say that the books were lost during the Japanese occupation others say that they were burnt before or during that occupation. There remains however some slight consolation in the fact that a few copies which the author had presented to his intimate friends have been treasured, Mr. J. C. Jordan was married but had no children. He died on 7 October aged 80.
The three classrooms of the Manook Arrathoon School were erected by Mr. Lucas. M Sarkies at his own expense in sacred memory of his deceased brother Thomas. Mr. Sarkies was also the owner of the well known Oranje hotel later renamed L.M.S hotel and hotel Sarkies which he took over from his brother Mr. John. M. Sarkies who went back to Julfa, Iran. There were other Armenians who had small boarding houses.
During the Japanese occupation lot of Armenians were interned, suffered, lost their belongings and lives Some were caught by the Kempetai (secret police) where they were tortured in the most cruel way. After lack of evidence they were released, it was a terrible time one did not know what would happen the next day.
The British with the Ghurkas bombarded Soerabaia and that made the Indonesians to rebel. Many people were killed and their bodies not found, it happened in the suburb of Krangang were 5 Armenian men were murdered, with bamboo spear also beheaded. Many of us were taken by ship to Singapore and accommodated in camps. After 6 months they were sent back were they came from, this was the time when lot of people decided not to go back to Indonesia they were given an option. So many went to Holland and from there they moved to U.S.A., U.K and Australia.
Our parents and other families took shelter in the church hall and school rooms because it was not safe. They received help and encouragement from then Rev. Khoren Kirakosian.
The Armenian sports club (ASC) in Surabaya was established by Mr. Mac Hacobian in 1923. Through the intermediary of close friend Dr Dykerman Lord Mayor of Surabaya, he was able to secure the extensive sporting grounds at Karang Mendjagan and organized the Ninehole Course Golf Club, one the leading golf clubs in Java. It had prominent Dutch, Danish, British and Japanese besides the Armenians. The colonies governor was its patron and Surabaya’s lord mayor was the honorary president. The club was very successful and prospered.
Other activities beside golf were basketball, tennis, hockey, football, bridge and backgammon. Mr. Hacobian also organized the dramatic society of Surabaya and a branch committee of the Armenian benevolent society and helped with erection of the Armenian church of St George Surabaya. He received the order of deacon by the venerable archbishop Mesrobe Magistros D.D. who was on a pastoral visit. This allow him to preach and hold church services.
The first priest was Rev. Vardan Vardanian from 1927 to 1937 followed by Rev. Barshegian, Rev. Keshishian, Rev. Khoren Kerakoshian (during WW2), Rev. Aristakes Mirzaian (the cousin of Aramais Mirzaian). The Bishops that visited were Archbishop Mesrobe Magistros D.D. 1927 and Bishop Terenig Poladian (after WW2).
Source: Wiki