Throughout history, the Armenian people have had one enduring ideal: To preserve and protect their language, their cultural heritage, their church and their faith. Despite many tragedies and obstacles, Armenians have continued to create and to build and to survive and to live.It was with that same perseverance that the building of Orange County's first religious, educational and cultural complex was made possible.

Today, this great complex hosts our Church that reaches the heavens, the School that nurtures our children and the Center that brings our hearts and minds together.  On November 28, 1973, a group of devoted Armenians, led by His Grace Bishop Sembat Lapajian, convened a meeting where the first Board of Trustees of the Orange County Armenians was appointed.  The Board's first order of business was to compile a list of Armenian families that lived in many different communities in Orange County. About 150 names were identified using the local address books. The next task was to find a house of worship where Armenians could congregate and practice their religion. In true Christian spirit, the pastor and Board of Trustees of St. Wilfried Episcopal Church of Huntington Beach, welcomed the idea of hosting the religious services of our community, where for more than 12 years, the Orange County Armenians performed and received their religious services. The first Armenian Mass in Orange County was offered on January 13, 1974 at St. Wilfried Episcopal Church, where more than 300 Armenians were gathered. This enthusiastic support demonstrated that the Armenians of Orange County were ready to have their own church.In September of 1976, the newly established community had its first permanent priest, Father Nareg Shrigian, whose efforts helped to increase the membership of the church from 40 to more than 150.

In the meantime, the task of building a church in Orange County became a high priority for the community.  On July 1, 1979, with support from the newly appointed Board of Trustees and the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Church, Father Ashod Kochian was appointed as the congregation’s permanent pastor.Subsequently, the Board of Trustees appointed a Finance Committee charged with the responsibility for identifying a site and founding a new Armenian church.On July 20, 1979, the first Ladies Auxiliary was formed.On May 12, 1980, as a result of great efforts by the Finance Committee a one-acre site was purchased. Between 1981-1984, additional lands were purchased bringing the total site to 1.8 acres.On November 22, 1981, during the blessing of the land by Bishop Lapajian, having paid off the cost of the land, the community ceremonially burned the mortgage on the purchase of the land.Subsequently, the Board of Trustees appointed a committee for the building of the church. After evaluating several plans and designs submitted by engineers and architects, the Board selected Architect Ashod Dorian for the church building.On November 25, 1984, under a great tent, His Grace Bishop Yeprem Tabakian consecrated the foundation of the future church. On the same afternoon, under the auspices of Bishop Tabakian, a fundraising banquet was held, where in an enthusiastic atmosphere, the community generated more than $800,000 for the building of the future church.During the banquet, Mr. Manuel Keuilian made a generous donation of $150,000 and expressed his wishes to name the church.  The Forty Martyrs Armenian Church, in memory of his brother and mother. He told this story.  During the Genocide, my younger brother and I were separated from each other. My brother and a group of small children were in the Forty Martyrs Church School when the Turkish soldiers barraged the church. I was later told by those who had survived the barbaric attack that the Turkish soldiers brutally killed my little brother repeatedly hitting his head on the walls of the Forty Martyrs Church.

While still under construction, on April 27, 1986, before a large congregation, Father Kochian performed the first Holy Mass in memory of the victims of the April 24th Genocide of the 1.5 million Armenians.On September 21, 1986, the first Episcopal Mass was delivered by His Grace Bishop Datev Sarkissian in the newly completed church.On September 22nd, the Ari Guiragos Minassian School opened its doors, for which we are so deeply grateful. It is in this school that today, our young generation learns the Armenian language and culture.On October 25, 1986, with more 400 in attendance, the Grand Opening of the Church Hall was held, under the Auspices of His Grace Bishop Sarkissian. With a generous donation of $150,000, Mr. and Mrs. Gugassian expressed their wishes to name the Hall in memory of their parents, Haig and Vartouhi Gugasian.On November 12, 1986, the Board of Trustees convened a meeting with the parents of the A.G. Minassian students, where the first Parents Teachers Organization was formed. The PTO immediately elected its Board, prepared a Program and started its activities in support of the school.In January 1987, the Western Prelacy appointed Rev. Father Moushegh Mardirossian (currently Prelate of Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church) the Dean of the Forty Martyrs Armenian Church who with great ability and vision took on the leadership of improving and enhancing the church.On March 7, 1987, in a gala event, the Grand Opening of the school took place. At this event, Misters Levon and Steve Minassians, the benefactors of the school, with a $200,000 donation expressed their wishes to name the school in memory of their beloved younger brother Ari Guiragos Minassian.On June 18, 1988, on the joyous occasion of the consecration of the church, Mr. and Mrs. Hrayr and Anna Hovnanians made a generous donation of $250,000 for the continued improvement and enhancement of the complex.

June 19, 1988 became one of the most memorable days for the Orange County Armenian community. On that day, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia performed the official consecration of the Forty Martyrs Church of Orange County.Thus, the building of this great complex is a great accomplishment made possible by the unwavering faith of this community, its religious leaders and the vision and efforts of its Boards of Trustees.That faith continues to live on in our spirits. No obstacle seems to weaken that faith.It is that faith that turned the earth into stones and the stones into our Church. The Church whose bells are thunderous and whose song is victorious.

FORTY MARTYRS ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH