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Armenian Church |
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The Armenian Church of St Gregory the Illuminator This first Christian church was built in Singapore in 1835 after the plans of the Irish architect George D. Coleman, and consecrated on 26 March 1836. The National Preservation Board of Singapore declared it national monument in 1973. St Gregory the Illuminator (Krikor Lusavoric), was the first Supreme Head of the Armenian Church. It is said that he converted King Tiridates III, who proclaimed Christianity as Armenia's state religion in the year 301. The tomb stones of the memorial garden in the Church compound were brought here in the 1960s from Fort Canning Cemetery, when it was transformed into a park. Among them are tomb stones of famous Singaporean Armenians such as Catchick Moses, co-founder of Straits Times, the Sarkies brothers, founders of Raffles Hotel, and Agnes Joaquim who cultivated an orchid named Vanda Miss Joaquim after her, which became the national flower of Singapore in 1981. Address:
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