History of our Parish


Area residents fondly refer to St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church as “The Church on the Hill.”  Members of the congregation, take great pride in their house of worship that was consecrated on September 19, 1971.
   
As is typical of a mid-sized Armenian community, the early beginnings were quite modest and humble.
This generation’s grandparents and parents came to the area with little knowledge of the language, culture or customs of their newly adopted country. All they hoped for was freedom from oppression and the opportunity for a better life for their families.
A better and more fulfilling life begins with spiritual renewal and affirmation.
And so it began that the local church had its origins in 1899 when a dedicated group of Armenian leaders decided to form a parish despite the fact that there was no priest available to conduct Divine Liturgy. In those early days, church services, when observed, were held at St. Paul Episcopal Church in Troy, thanks to the kind invitation of its vestry.
Original bylaws established annual dues at fifty cents. Visiting clergy were paid anywhere from $7 to $15. One has to remember that these were lean years since the average weekly pay was about $10 and the work week was slightly over 50 hours.

The Armenian resolve to establish its Christian faith took a major step forward in 1913 when it was decided to purchase a church in the Village of Green Island for $2,500. By 1916, the mortgage was paid off. Church membership grew and the official consecration of the Church took place that year. The “Godfather” was Mr. Harootun Santigian who had donated the large sum of $50. He chose the name “St. Peter“ for the church.
There were many difficult periods ahead, mostly financial, but slowly they were overcome. As the Armenian community grew still larger, a larger house of worship was needed. In 1927, a Search Committee learned of a Methodist church, built in 1854, that was available in the City of Troy.
The sale of the Green Island church produced $1,500, and so, with a down payment of $10,000, the edifice on Fifth Avenue and Jacob Street was purchased in 1927 for $30,000. The dedication of the congregation, the Parish Council and the Clergy during the next four decades cannot be overemphasized. Their dedication and sacrifices are too many to enumerate. It was their devotion to church and the Armenian community as a whole that laid the foundation for the survival of their language, customs and culture in this area. We owe them our undying gratitude.
During the early 1960’s, the Parish Council and the congregation faced structural problems of the church. Costly repairs were made and consideration was given to purchasing land for a new house of worship.
Through the gracious consent of Mrs. Agnes Wiswall, 45 acres of land was sold to us for the small sum of $12,000. The land in Watervliet, situated on a hill, had a commanding view of the local region. Our pastor at that time was Very Rev. Hmayak Intoyan.
Committees were formed, and over the following years, fund-raising activities of all kinds took place. Long hours were spent over the architectural design. First estimate costs were $350,000 in 1967. With changes in design and other delays, costs rose to $650,000 during the following years. Final costs totalled $750,000 when the new St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church was consecrated by Archbishop Torkom Manoogian in September of 1971.
Father Garen Gdanian was our priest at the time and he faithfully served us until his retirement in 1989. He now serves as our Pastor Emeritus.
Following Fr. Gdanian’s retirement, Father Tateos Abdalian served for four years. He was followed by Father Masis Galstian.
In 1995, Deacon Gregory Doudoukjian came to our community as Deacon-in-Charge of the parish. In February of 1996, he was ordained in our Church as Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian and has been our young and energetic spiritual leader ever since.

PASTORS OF OUR CHURCH
Rev. Vahram Misirlian (1911-1912)
Very Rev. Dripoun Bedzakian (1913-1916)
Very Rev. Leont Martoogessian (1917-1919)
Very Rev. Diryre Markarian (1919-1920)
Rev. Bedros Vartanian (1921)
Rev. Sahag DerBedrosian (1922-1926)
Very Rev. Stepan Vartanian (1927-1928)
Rev. Yeghishe Kalchunjian (1928-1930)
Rev. Nishon Papazian (1931-1933)
Rev. Yeghishe Kasparian (1933)
Rev. Levont Parounagian (1934-1938)
Rev. Vahan Guldalian(1938-1945)
Very Rev. Papken Varjabedian (1946-1950)
Very Rev. Mesrob Semerjian (1950-1952)
Very Rev. Papken Varjabedian (1952-1956)
Rev. Vartan DerAssadourian (1956-1962)
Very Rev. Hmayak D. V. Intoyan (1962-1968)
Rev. Garen Gdanian (1970-1989)
Rev. Tateos Abdalian (1989-1993)
Rev. Masis Galstian (1993-1995)
Rev. Stepanos Doudoukjian (1995-2007) (see bio below)
Rev. Bedros Kadehjian (2007-present) (click for bio)

Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian came to St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, NY, in StepanosDoudoukjian.jpgNovember 1995 as Deacon Gregory, Deacon-in-Charge of the parish. Born and raised in New Jersey, he is the son of Sona and the late Charles Doudoukjian of Teaneck, NJ, and the youngest of four children. Throughout his high school years, Fr. Stepanos attended religious conferences and retreats at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, NY. It was there that he first heard God's "calling" and it was there that he met his wife, Paulette (Kasparian). It was the summer programs at the seminary that helped surface the seed of priesthood that was already planted within him.

Fr. Stepanos, who comes from a family of bankers, originally went to Bergen Community College in New Jersey, where he majored in banking and finance for one semester, after graduating from high school. He changed his major to early childhood development and earned his Associates Degree. He then transferred to Dominican College in Orangeburg, NJ, where he earned his BA in elementary education. In 1993, he graduated from St. Nersess Seminary and St. Valadimirs Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY, receiving a Master's Degree in Divinity.  He also received special commendation for his Master's Thesis titled, "Oral History: An Intergenerational Study of the Effects of the Assassination of Archbishop Leon Tourian in 1933 on American-Armenians."

Fr. Stepanos has traveled to Armenia on two occasions.  In 1990, he spent two months studying with the University of Michigan summer study program.  He also went for three weeks in 1992 to do missionary work with St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.  Following his graduation, he spent some time in the Old City of Jerusalem studying Armenian and Liturgics.

During the years 1994-95, prior to moving to the Capital District where he now resides, Fr. Stepanos worked as a pastoral assistant and youth director for the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs in Queens, NY, and at the Diocesan headquarters in the youth ministry department, where he focused on college ministry.

In February 1996, as part of the traditional Armenian ordination ritural which was held at St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, New York, Deacon Gregory was given his new name, Stepanos, as he was ordained a priest in the Armenian Church by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. Dn. Gregory requested the name Stepanos, Armenian for Stephen, in honor of his deceased twin-brother. Following the ceremony, Fr. Stepanos spent his Karasoonk (40-day secluded retreat) at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. He celebrated his Antranig Badarak (first Divine Liturgy) at St. Peter Armenian Church on Palm Sunday, March 31, 1996.

In January 1998, in addition to his parish ministry, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian assigned Fr. Stepanos the position of Director of the St. Nersess summer and winter conferences for Armenian Youth, a position which Der Stepanos presently still holds. As Director, Fr. Stepanos organizes and implements seminars for Junior High, High School and College-aged Armenian students.

In 2005, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian also appointed Fr. Stepanos as the Director for Youth and Vocations for St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.  Since then, he has been sharing his time between St. Peter Armenian Church and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.  For more information on St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and its programs, visit their website at www.stnersess.edu.

In 2006, the Primate presented Fr. Stepanos with the pectoral cross in honor of the 10th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. 

As of July 1, 2007, Fr. Stepanos has been assigned as the full-time Director of Youth and Vocations for St.  Nersess Armenian Seminary.  His emphasis will be on recruitment of seminarians.  He will also continue to direct the summer programs as well as organize other youth programs for the seminary.