Chennai’s shrinking Armenian community celebrates centuries-old Madras-Armenia bond - The Hindu

When traveller Georges Atamian walked into the three-centuries old Armenian Church in Chennai’s George Town, clad in a lungi, he did not expect to find an instant family. A symbol of the city’s Armenian links, the Armenian Church of the Virgin Mary, flanked by cobblestone pathways and frangipani trees, rarely sees visitors, given that the once-thriving community has dwindled to a few families. However, as luck would have it, Georges’ visit coincided with Armenian Christmas day, traditionally celebrated on January 6, the one day that remaining members of the community gather at the church to celebrate their heritage. Ashkhen Khachatryan, who moved to Chennai nine years ago, after marrying city-based Kapilan Jesudian, usually takes charge of getting the few remaining Armenians in the city together.