The Armenians were once important traders and financiers across coastal south and south-east Asia and the Armenian connection with Madras dates back to the 1600s, when merchants arrived by sea to trade in jute and silk, spices and precious stones. Armenian church is one of the oldest churches of the Indian subcontinent.It was first built in 1712 and later rebuilt after the French siege in 1772.The church has the biggest bells in the city, each weighing 200 kg and the oldest two dating back to 1754 and 1778 and the church complex also served as a cemetery for the Armenian population in the city. A grave of Reverend Haroutiun Shmavonian, the founder, publisher and editor of “Azdarar”, decorated with an open book can be found here. Engraved on the book in block letters is the word “Azdarar”, which means “The Intelligencer” in Armenian. This was the first Armenian journal in the world, published in Old Madras in the year 1794, when the merchant community from the mountainous, Eurasian country was thriving in the city. #nadodian#India#Chennai#Armenian#Church#Madras#Georgetown#TamilNadu#History#Architecture#Traders#Bells#Grave#Madrasi#Journal#Eurasia#Armenia#Azdarar#Cemetery#Heritage#MonumentsOfIndia#ChurchBells#ExploreCulture#ArmenianChurch#Armeniansinindia#MadrasDay#Chennaite (at Armenian Church, Chennai)