St. James Armenian Church sits along Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown, Massachusetts, where for nearly a century it has served as the spiritual home of one of the oldest Armenian communities in New England. The parish is part of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, a member of the Oriental Orthodox family together with the Coptic, Syrian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Indian Malabar churches. Worship here follows the ancient Badarak, or Divine Liturgy, celebrated mostly in English with portions in Western Armenian. Around the church, a Cultural and Youth Center houses classrooms, a Sunday school, meeting spaces, and Keljik Hall, while outside, an Armenian Genocide memorial anchors the grounds. St. James is known for its schools, choirs, athletic and cultural festivals, and a deep bench of parish organizations that bring generations together around a shared faith and heritage.
The Apostolic Faith of the Armenian Church
St. James belongs to the Oriental Orthodox tradition, which traces its roots to the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, who according to tradition first brought Christianity to Armenia in the first century. The faith was formally established in the early fourth century when St. Gregory the Illuminator baptized King Tiridates III and Christianity became the state religion. St. Mesrob Mashdotz invented the Armenian alphabet in 406 AD and, together with Catholicos Sahag and their disciples, translated the Holy Scriptures into Armenian, launching what is often called the Golden Age of Armenian Christianity.
The Armenian Church professes the Nicene Creed, adopted at the Council of Nicea in 325, with a notable Armenian theological contribution from St. Arisdagés, son of St. Gregory the Illuminator. St. James recites the creed in English and in classical Armenian, with parallel texts printed on the parish's own pages. The church's Confession of Faith, drawn from the Gandzasar Theological Review, centers on the All-Holy Trinity, the perfect union of divine and human natures in Christ, the uncreated Holy Spirit, one holy catholic and apostolic Church, baptism with repentance, the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting.
The Armenian Church is one of four Hierarchical Sees: the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia in Antelias, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and the Patriarchate of Constantinople. St. James is a parish of the Eastern Diocese, officially the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, which oversees 62 fully formed and mission parishes across 21 U.S. states, plus four mission communities. The Eastern Diocese is led by its Primate, currently His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan, who presides from St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City.
A Parish Born in the Great Depression
St. James was started in the difficult years of the Great Depression through the determination of volunteers, most of them factory workers, who went door-to-door in 1926 to raise money for a plot of land on Mt. Auburn Street. The land first bore the name "Armenian Apostolic Church," and the surrounding neighborhood still carries the imprint of that effort. Rev. Matevos Manigian, the parish's first pastor, celebrated the first Divine Liturgy at Waverly Oaks Park on Assumption Day in 1930, after which services were held in the nearby East Junior School using a portable altar that traveled back and forth each week.
The Ladies Auxiliary and Junior Misses Clubs were formed in 1928, and by the spring of 1931 all the church's debts had been paid. Archbishop Ghevont Tourian, the former Primate, officiated at the groundbreaking on Saturday, August 29, 1931, with the traditional sacrifice of two lambs. The four walls of the church rose that year, and the first Sunday services in the unfinished building were held on June 4, 1933, with worshipers shielding singers from rain with umbrellas. In 1933 the Sahag Mesrob Armenian School became the parish's responsibility and a choir was formed. The heating system was installed and the church hall opened in 1934, and Sunday School was founded in 1935. The building was consecrated as St. James Armenian Church on October 31, 1937, named for St. James of Nisibis, one of the most revered saints of the Armenian Church, at the request of the parish's principal godfather and benefactor, Haroutune Touloukian.
In the decades that followed, the parish kept growing. The Parish Council took shape, a Parish House and rectory were purchased, and on September 24, 1967 the Cultural and Youth Center was dedicated, a three-level structure adjacent to the church that remains a gathering place for the parish and the wider Armenian community. On November 5, 1979 the parish joined Armenian communities around the world in memorializing the 1915 Genocide with a monument that stands between the church and the Cultural Center. St. James has welcomed two Catholicoi of All Armenians, Vazken I (in 1960, 1968, and 1987) and Karekin I (in 1996), and has hosted several Annual Diocesan Assemblies and ACYOA General Assemblies and Sports Weekends.
Pastors of St. James have included Rev. Fr. Matteos Manigian (1930 to 1931), Rev. Fr. Bedros Vartanian (1933 to 1936), Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Kalchinjian (1936 to 1942), Right Rev. Bp. Hovsep Garabedian (1943 to 1949), Rev. Fr. Torkom Postajian (1949 to 1954), Rev. Fr. Arten Ashjian (1955 to 1969), Rev. Fr. Dajad Davidian (1969 to 1999), and the current pastor, Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, who has served since 1999. Rev. Fr. Arsen Barsamian has served as associate pastor since 1989.
The Divine Liturgy, or Badarak
The Badarak is the central act of worship at St. James. "The Divine Liturgy is the great medicine that provides true meaning and direction for our lives." Built on the reading of the Word of God and the reception of Holy Communion, the service brings together celebrant, deacons, altar servers, choir, and people in a single ritual act. Visitors are invited to follow the prayers and hymns using the pew books, which contain the classical Armenian (Krapar) text, a modern Armenian translation, and an English transliteration with translation. Page numbers from the Divine Liturgy book are illuminated on the upper left and right sides of the main altar so worshipers can keep their place.
The faithful make the sign of the cross at several moments: after each bow, at every doxology, when the sacred name of Christ is invoked, at the start of the Gospel reading, when the priest offers peace or blessing, when the censer is swung toward them, at the words of institution ("Take, eat, this is My Body…" and "Drink ye all, this is my Blood"), when receiving Holy Communion, when kissing the Gospel, and when leaving the church. The sign of peace is exchanged with the words "Christ is revealed in our midst" and answered "Blessed is the revelation of Christ."
On Sundays the regular schedule begins with Morning Service (Matins) at 8:30 a.m., followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. During Great Lent, the morning shifts to a Sunrise (Arevakal) Service at 9:45 a.m. and a Lenten Divine Liturgy behind a closed curtain at 10:15 a.m. The sanctuary is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for prayer and candle lighting.
The Seven Holy Mysteries
St. James recognizes the seven sacraments, or "holy mysteries," of the Armenian Church: Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Communion, Penance, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Unction of the Sick. Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Communion are celebrated together in a single ceremony so the newly baptized person is fully received into the life of the Church. White baptismal outfits, a small gold cross provided by the godfather, and large white towels are brought by the family. At least one godparent must be a member of the Armenian Orthodox Church, and the baptism should be scheduled at least two months in advance. Chrismation follows immediately, with the priest anointing the forehead, eyes, ears, nostrils, lips, hands, heart, back, and feet with Holy Muron, each place receiving its own prayer.
Couples contact the church office at least eight months before a wedding. Weddings may not take place on Sunday mornings, during Great Lent or Holy Week, or on the five major feast days (Armenian Christmas, Holy Easter, the Feast of the Transfiguration, the Feast of the Assumption of Holy Mary the Mother of God, and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross). Funerals are coordinated with Bedrosian Funeral Home and Giragosian Funeral Home, both in Watertown, and may not be held on religious holidays, major feast days, Saturdays after 3:00 p.m., or Sundays.
Fr. Arakel is available around the clock for Baptisms, cemetery blessings, counseling, engagement services, funerals, hokehankisd (memorial prayers), house blessings, pastoral visits, prayers for the sick, pre-marital consultation, private confession, and visitations to the sick. Because federal privacy rules restrict clergy access to hospital lists, parishioners are asked to call the church office directly to request a pastoral visit. Requiem Services are held at 40 days (Karasoonk), one year (Darelitz), and on each anniversary of a loved one's passing, with the exception of the five major feast days; arrangements are made through the church office by Thursday at noon.
Sunday Schools and a Child Care Center
Children are at the heart of St. James. The Sunday School, founded in 1935, is one of the largest in the Diocese and is staffed by parish volunteers with no registration fee or tuition. Classes meet from 10:00 a.m. to noon using a curriculum provided by the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern). Children from kindergarten (must be five by December) through eleventh grade are welcome. Students in grades K to 3 attend a brief Worship Service in Mirak Hall from 10:00 to 10:15 a.m. before heading to their classrooms until 11:15 a.m. Students in grades 4 to 11 attend class from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and then join the Divine Liturgy. Throughout the year the Sunday School marks Poon Paregentan before Lent, runs a Lenten program and charity drive, fills Easter baskets for Watertown food pantries, prepares box lunches for Fr. Bill's Place, a homeless shelter in Quincy, and takes part in Palm Sunday, Holy Tuesday (Service of the Maidens), Holy Thursday's Vodunluva (Washing of the Feet), and the Agape Meal.
Younger children have their own program, Sunday Sprouts, a child care center for ages two through five that meets Sunday mornings with a drop-off window of 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. and a pickup window of 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. Parents must remain on the church property while their children are in the program so they can take part in the Divine Liturgy. The director, Reena Panian, is an early childhood educator who joined St. James from Open Wings Daycare.
Western Armenian and Adult Learning
St. James supports two schools of Armenian language instruction. The St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian School, established in 1931, offers Western Armenian language classes for students from preschool through eighth grade on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Mesrob Mashdotz Institute, founded in 1982, provides adult classes in the Armenian language. The parish holds a number of scholarships for students pursuing higher education.
ACYOA, Men's Club, Women's Guild, and the Mr. & Mrs. Group
The Armenian Church Youth Organization of America has been active at St. James since 1945, with ACYOA Juniors for younger youth and ACYOA Seniors for ages 18 and up. Programming centers on the Five Circles of the Cross: Worship, Witness, Fellowship, Education, and Service. Members take part in faith-based discussions, local service projects, national retreats, Sports Weekends, and social outings, and are encouraged to attend Badarak every Sunday. The parish's youth minister, Maria Derderian, oversees ACYOA.
The Men's Club, formed in 1949, has historically organized a Boy Scout Troop, "Sports Nights" with notable athletes, New Year's Eve celebrations, the annual Bazaar, weekly Bingo, and the annual Harold Partamian Golf Tournament at Oakley Country Club in Watertown. The Women's Guild, formed in 1949, hosts monthly meetings, Saintly Women's Day, the CASP sponsorship of children in Armenia, cooking and baking marathons (manti, choereg, simit, tahin bread, paklava, boeregs, khadeif), recipe calendars, charity fundraisers such as the Hye Tea, and an annual percentage of net proceeds returned to the parish treasury. The Mr. & Mrs. Group, founded in 1969, holds dinner meetings on the second Friday of each month, except March, July, and August, with four couples each month planning the evening's entertainment and refreshments. The group assists at the Annual Bazaar and makes annual contributions to the church treasury.
Choir and Cultural Committee
The Senior Choir has been part of St. James since 1933, joined by the Junior Choir and Chorus in 1995. The choir leads the congregation through the hymns of the Badarak, and worshipers are invited to sing along as the choir sings. The Choir Director is Nicole Simmons. The Cultural Committee, formed in 1970, helps the parish celebrate its Armenian heritage through programs, lectures, and observances such as the annual Armenian Festival on the church grounds, which features Armenian food, live music and dancing, and children's activities. The parish also publishes a quarterly Looys Newsletter and the Sunday Bulletin to keep members informed.
Pastoral Care, Membership, and Stewardship
The mission of St. James is to lead people to become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ by proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation, lived out in worship, witness, education, service, and fellowship within the distinctive faith experience of the Armenian Church. The pastor and associate pastor are supported by a Parish Council, lay Diocesan Delegates, and the parish's many organizations. Membership is open to baptized Christians who share the faith of the Armenian Church. Stewardship is the central financial program, with an Annual Appeal and online giving; the parish also offers perpetual memorial plaques engraved with the names of departed loved ones in both Armenian and English, displayed in the church foyer.
Gifts to St. James may be made through disposable income, appreciated assets such as stocks or real estate, estate giving, and life insurance. Restricted gifts can be directed to building repairs, church programs, or special events such as the Annual Bazaar and Picnic and the St. James Name Day Banquet. A Christmas offering known as the Yughakin is collected during the Christmas season, and donations in lieu of flowers at funerals are welcomed to the St. James General Operating Fund. Online giving is available through the parish's online donation page.
Visiting St. James
St. James sits at 465 Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown, with two parish parking lots: one on Mt. Auburn Street across from the sanctuary and another at the intersection of Mt. Auburn and School Street. Additional street parking is available nearby. Parishioners are asked to respect neighbors by avoiding driveways and lawns, as cars parked illegally may be ticketed or towed, and handicap spots are reserved for those with official plates or placards. Both rental halls are fully accessible with state-of-the-art kitchens and ample free parking. The sanctuary is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for those who wish to visit, pray, and light candles.
Each Sunday following the Divine Liturgy the parish hosts a fellowship hour. It is a custom in the Armenian Church to host a fellowship hour in memory of a loved one, and families may also host one in celebration of a special occasion by calling the church office. A bookstore in the Cultural Center offers materials on Armenian Christian heritage. According to Armenian Church tradition, the homes of the faithful are blessed by the priest during the forty days after Christmas and Easter; families wishing to have their homes blessed are asked to call the church office.
The Cultural and Youth Center and the Gathering Spaces
The Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center, dedicated in 1967, remains the social heart of the parish. Its newly renovated Keljik Hall seats over 600 and accommodates wedding receptions for 450 to 500 guests, large fundraisers, and boxing nights, while the Armene and Veronica Tarvezian Hall beneath the church sanctuary provides an intimate setting for up to 150 guests at engagement parties, birthday celebrations, and smaller gatherings. The halls are available for rental through the Facilities Manager. Outside, between the church and the Cultural Center, stands the parish's Armenian Genocide memorial, dedicated in 1979, where commemorations are held each spring. The grounds also host the annual St. James Armenian Festival each June and the 78th Annual St. James Bazaar each October, both long-running parish traditions that bring the wider Armenian community together on Mt. Auburn Street.