| St. John the Baptist Church Սուրբ Հովհաննես Մկրտիչ Եկեղեցի | |
|---|---|
 St. John Armenian Church, Chinsura | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Rite | Armenian |
| Location | |
| Location | Chinsura,West Bengal India |
  Shown within India | |
| Coordinates | 22°53′28″N88°24′02″E / 22.89103151°N 88.40060413°E /22.89103151; 88.40060413 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Armenian |
| Groundbreaking | 1695 |
| Completed | 1697 |
St. John the Baptist Church of Chinsura (Armenian:Սուրբ Յովհաննէս Մկրտիչ Եկեղեցի), is located inChinsura,India. The church was built in 1695–1697 and is dedicated toSt. John the Baptist. It is the second-oldest Christian church inBengal, and the oldest Armenian church in India.The church is well preserved due to its proximity toKolkata and the care committee of theArmenian Churches.
The Armenian Church[1] of Chinsura was started in 1699.[2] A spire was added to the church in 1822, for which the Dutch resident of BengalDaniel Anthony Overbeek laid the foundation stone.[3]
Each year on 13–14 January, the church celebrates the feast of John the Baptist, whoserelics (bones of the left hand) are thought to be in theArmenian Church of Holy Nazareth, located 65 kilometers away, and delivered to the party in the Church Pilgrims.[4] Armenians settled inChinsura in 1645, after the Dutch, who formed their colony in 1625.On March 1, 2007,Catholicos of All ArmeniansKarekin II visited the church.[5]
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