A Parish Born from Displacement
On Pleasant Avenue in the neighborhoods east of Downtown Los Angeles, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Armenian Catholic Church holds a singular place in the religious history of the American West. It is the first Armenian Catholic parish established in California, and its foundation is rooted in one of the twentieth century's largest forced migrations.
Before the Second World War, Armenians in Los Angeles worshipped at Apostolic churches such as Holy Cross and St. James, or joined Evangelical congregations. A small number of Armenian Catholics, however, attended local Roman Catholic parishes, and this group quietly formed the seed of a future community.
After the war, thousands of Armenians displaced by war or communism were resettled in a Displaced Persons camp near Stuttgart, Germany. Recognizing their spiritual needs, the Mekhitarist Fathers of Vienna sent Father Michael Akian to serve them. After four years of pastoral work in Germany and Vienna, Father Akian accompanied many of these immigrants to California, where an Armenian Catholic community had begun to take shape in East Los Angeles and Montebello.
In 1951, Patriarch Gregory Cardinal Agagianian visited California and celebrated the Armenian Liturgy in Los Angeles, Fresno, and San Francisco. That same year, Father Akian arrived in Los Angeles to establish a parish. With the support of Cardinal McIntyre, an existing church near Downtown was granted for Armenian Catholic use. It was named Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and was officially dedicated on April 29, 1956.
Growth Through the Decades
The new parish grew quickly. The Ladies Guild was established in those early years and has remained a pillar of the parish ever since. In 1964, Father Akian was recalled to Vienna, and Father Clement Morian assumed the pastorate. Under his leadership the community expanded significantly as new immigrants arrived from Soviet Armenia, the Middle East, and Romania.
Father Akian returned to Los Angeles as pastor in 1976 and served until 1987, assisted by Fathers Basil Ferhatian and Gregory Heboyan. This period marked a turning point for Armenian Catholics across North America. In 1981, Pope John Paul II established the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics in the United States and Canada, appointing Bishop Nerses Setian as its first Exarch. Father Ferhatian launched Verelk, a periodical sharing Catholic teaching with the community.
Father Mesrob Topalian succeeded Father Akian in 1987. During his pastorate, the parish gave rise to the Armenian Catholic Youth Organization (ACYO), the Daniel Varoujan Cultural Society, and the newsletter Avedaper. When the Armenian earthquake struck in 1988, the parish mounted a substantial relief effort for victims.
In 1991, Father Raphael Minassian became pastor and soon recognized the need for expansion. He spearheaded the development of a new church in Glendale, built in the style of traditional Armenian architecture and completed in 2001. It was consecrated by Bishop Manuel Batakian and later became St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic Cathedral, the seat of the Eparchy. Father Anton Panossian served as assistant pastor from 2001 until his retirement in 2013.
In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Mikael Mouradian as head of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg, with his residence at the Glendale cathedral. Two years later, Father Armenag Bedrossian was appointed pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs. Under his leadership the parish has seen a renewal: church renovations, the re-establishment of the Parish Council, a revitalized choir, the reintroduction of children's religious education, and outreach into the wider community, including the launch of an English-language Sunday Mass.
Worship and the Armenian Catholic Liturgy
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs celebrates the Divine Liturgy according to the Armenian Catholic rite. The parish describes Sunday worship as a meeting place where tradition meets community, and where regulars and visitors alike are welcome to reflect, connect, and grow in faith.
The parish sits within the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg in the United States and Canada, itself a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Armenian Catholic tradition shares the seven sacraments with the wider Catholic Church while preserving the distinctive prayers, hymns, and liturgical calendar of the Armenian rite.
Services are held in Armenian and English. Confession is offered by appointment, and all are welcome to approach with an open heart.
Sacraments and Sacramental Life
The parish guides families and individuals through the full sacramental life of the Armenian Catholic Church. The seven sacraments are Baptism, Christmation (Confirmation), Penance, Holy Communion, Marriage, Ordination, and Anointing of the Sick, each described by the parish as both a sign and an instrument of God's grace.
Among the parish's most cherished traditions is the Karasoonk, the forty-day infant blessing. Following the example of Jesus being presented at the Temple, families bring a newborn to church for the first time at the end of the forty-day period. The priest offers prayers for both baby and mother, welcoming the child into the faith community.
Baptism is prepared with care, whether for an infant or an adult entering the faith. First Communion is approached as a joyful milestone, with preparation that helps children understand the meaning of the Eucharist and the presence of Christ in their lives. Marriage is celebrated as a sacred and joyful union rooted in the teachings of Christ and the beauty of Armenian Catholic tradition, surrounded by family, friends, and community.
Community Life
The Ladies Guild has been a constant presence since the parish's earliest years, supporting the mission and life of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs through decades of dedication. Its members coordinate fundraisers, care for parish needs, and preserve the culinary and cultural traditions of the Armenian Catholic community. Among its current projects is a two-part cookbook fundraiser, with one volume dedicated to pastries, desserts, and breads, and another to savory dishes, drawing beloved recipes from parish families.
The parish choir, directed by Ara Aroyan and Marie Kayayan, has been revitalized in recent years and serves a central role in the celebration of the Armenian Divine Liturgy. Children receive religious education that has been reintroduced under the current pastorate, and the parish has long ties to youth and cultural organizations that carry Armenian heritage into the next generation.
The parish council, chaired by Father Armenag Bedrossian, oversees the life and direction of the community. Hall rental inquiries are handled through Marco, whose contact information is available through the parish office.
Rebuilding After the Fire
In a message to parishioners and friends, Father Armenag described a devastating fire that consumed the sacristy and caused serious damage around the Altar and within the church. He noted that the Altar itself stood unharmed and protected, a sign of hope amid the destruction.
Sunday worship has continued without interruption in the parish hall while the church building is restored. A fundraising gala brought the wider community together in support of the rebuilding effort, and donations continue to underwrite the work of brick-by-brick restoration.
The parish's response reflects its longer story. Just as it endured earlier trials, including the COVID pandemic and the disruptions that accompanied immigration and resettlement, the community has framed the fire as another chapter in a long history of faith and rebuilding.
Supporting the Parish
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs is a parish church under the Armenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Contributions can be made online through the parish giving page, by check mailed to the parish address, or by Zelle to the number listed by the parish office.
The parish hall next to the church is available for rent for baptisms, wedding receptions, anniversaries, and cultural gatherings, offering a warm and welcoming space for community events.
Visitors planning a first visit can reach the parish office at (323) 261-9898 or by email. The church's address is 1327 Pleasant Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90033.