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HOLY RESURRECTION CHAPEL OF SWAZILAND TRANSFERRED TO CATHOLICOSATE OF


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HOLY RESURRECTION CHAPEL OF SWAZILAND TRANSFERRED TO CATHOLICOSATE OF ETCHMIADZIN

21:21, 15 January, 2016

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. On January 13, King Msvati III
of Swaziland officially transferred the Holy Resurrection Armenian
Chapel and the lands pertaining to the Chapel to the Catholicosate of
Etchmiadzin. "Armenpress" reports, citing the source of the Ministry
of Diaspora "Hayern Aysor".

A year ago, representatives of the local Armenian community submitted
to King Msvati III of Swaziland a petition with the request to transfer
the Holy Resurrection Church to the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin.

A year later, the Armenian chapel of Swaziland truly became an Armenian
chapel and one that will legally pertain to the Catholicosate from
now on.

The Armenian Church in the distant African kingdom was constructed
in 1989, thanks to Grigor Derbelyan.

Grigor Derbelyan, citizen of Swaziland, was born in 1914 in Aintab.

During the Armenian Genocide, with her 20-day-old son in her hands,
Grigor's mother reached her husband in Cairo by foot and died a couple
of months later. Finishing his studies at the Armenian university
in Cairo, for 12 years, Grigor worked in Khartum (Sudan) where there
was quite a large Armenian community. Later, he started working for
the Olivett company in Johannesburg, South African Republic.

When he matured, Grigor Derbelyan decided to settle in Swaziland where,
according to him, he discovered a wonderful place called Pine Valley,
which is not far from Mbaban, the capital of Swaziland. Seeing the
place, Grigor decided that it is here where he wants to spend the
rest of his life and die.

In the center of Pine Valley, the landscape of which reminded him
of Armenia, Grigor purchased an 11-acre land, built a small Armenian
chapel and plants 1,770 pine and fir trees. A small river flows aside
the chapel. Grigor refered to the river as the Arax River and even
placed a panel named "Arax River". Construction of the church was
launched in 1985 and ended in 1989.

About 60 people made contributions for construction of the chapel,
including Olivetti Company, which hired Grigor for 12 years.

The small church has two cupolas.

Local construction materials were used to build the chapel.

Interestingly, the part in the back of the chapel leans on a large
stone that serves as an altar, like the Saint Geghard Church in
Armenia.

Today, there is a small Armenian community of eight members in the
small African Kingdom. The Armenians of the neighboring South African
Republic help the Armenians of Swaziland care for the chapel and the
lands pertaining to the chapel.

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/832200/holy-resurrection-chapel-of-swaziland-transferred-to-catholicosate-of-etchmiadzin.html

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There is that saying: "Where there are two Armenians there will be a Church." But, Swaziland?

 

God love them,I wish them well.

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  • 9 months later...
SWAZILAND
An Armenian church on African soil

 

http://www.armenews.com/IMG/arton133485-480x354.jpg

 

Mbabane, Swaziland (after Armenpress) - On 13 January 2016, King Msvati III of Swaziland has officially handed the Armenian chapel of the Holy Resurrection and the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin field. In 2015, representatives of the local Armenian community subjects of King Msvati III of Swaziland had petitioned the king to ask for the transfer of the building to the Armenian Church. A year later, the modest sanctuary is officially became a place of worship Armenian who now legally dependent on the Holy Echmiadzin headquarters.

The Armenian Church in this remote African kingdom was built in 1989, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Krikor Der Balian. Citizen of Swaziland, he was born in 1914 in Aintab Cilicia. Survivor of the Armenian Genocide, Krikor succeeds in Cairo with his mother. But she died a few months after their arrival in Egypt.Krikor Der Balian grew up fatherless. After studying at the Armenian school in Cairo, he moved to Khartoum in Sudan, where there was a large Armenian community. He later emigrated to Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa where he worked for Olivetti. At his retirement, K. Der Balian decides to settle in Pine Valley, near Mbabane, capital of Swaziland. It is said that the landscape of Pine Valley, are reminiscent of those of Armenia. He buys a two-hectare property and built a small chapel in the Armenian style around which he planted 1,770 pine and fir trees. To top it all, he places on the bank of the small river that flows near the chapel, a sign marked "Arax river." Launched in 1985, the building construction ends in 1989. Nearly sixty people contributed to the construction of the chapel, colleagues and friends of Olivetti where Krikor worked for twelve years.

The small church is crowned by two cupolas. Local materials were used for its construction. Feature of the building, as in one of the churches of Keghart monastery in Armenia, the altar of the chapel is backed by a huge rock.

The small local Armenian "community" today consists of eight members. They are actively supported by Armenians living in the Republic of South Africa neighbor, especially for the maintenance of their chapel and its land.

PN

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