The Diocese
Posted: 10/29/2026
The first Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church of Fowler was celebrated in 1902, in the Anglican Episcopal Church. The consecration of the Armenian church took place on April 17, 1910, by the hand of Bishop Hovsep Sarajian, the first Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. In 1889, he had arrived in the United States with the encyclical and blessing of Patriarch Khoren I Ashikian of Constantinople, to pastor the Armenians of Worcester, New York, Boston, and the surrounding area.
More about Bishop Hovsep Sarajian may be found in Fr. Arten Ashjian's book titled, Armenian Monk’s Ministry: Story of Archbishop Hovsep Sarajian. The first pastor and later first primate of the Armenian Church of America.
Photograph – The first Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (1898–1906), Bishop Hovsep Sarajian.
