The research was conducted by The University of Michigan-Dearborn Pluralism Project.

Armenian History in Detroit

Metropolitan Detroit is home to approximately 45,000-50,000 people of Armenian descent. Most arrived between 1910-1925, during the time of the Armenian massacres. Some returned to Armenia in the 1940s, but between 1975-1995, another 10,000-15,000 arrived. This produced some tension between the older immigrants and the new arrivals.

History of the Church

St. Sarkis Church is located in Dearborn, Michigan, an older suburb of Detroit, and the home of the Ford Motor Company. It sits along the service drive of Ford Road, a major commercial thoroughfare in Dearborn. The land for the church was purchased in 1963 from the Ford Motor Company at a reasonable price for the sole purpose of establishing a religious center, which was consecrated in October 1962. The previous place of worship, constructed in 1942, was the Finlater Temple, a Masonic Lodge in southwest Detroit, not far from the Delray area where the earliest Amenian immigrants to the city had settled. On land adjacent to the site where the church is currently located are several other religious centers and community institutions. These include Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (which is also home to People of the Book Arab Christian Church), St. Clement Ohridski Orthodox Church, and Warrendale Community Church. In addition the Islamic Center of America is in the process of constructing its new mosque on land between St. Clement Ohridski and St. Sarkis. Also in this complex is the Armenian Community Center, dedicated in 1976, and an Armenian senior citizens tower, dedicated in 1981. The members of St Sarkis have ties to both of these institutions, but the church is not directly affiliated with them.

Description

In addition to a worship space, St Sarkis Church has several classrooms, meeting rooms, office, social hall, and kitchen. In the parking lot is a stone cross, made of black marble, that Armenians have traditionally carved as a symbol of their devotion to Jesus. One side of the monument reads: "Dedicated to the unknown soldier of Karabagh (Artsakh) whose valiant spirit, courage, dedication, and martyrdom reestablished our national pride and prevented another genocide against the Armenian nation 1988-1995." The opposite side of the monuments, there appears the same inscription in Armenian.

Armenian Community Center and St. Sarkis

St. Sarkis does not have a great deal of contact with other religious centers in the area. There are Muslims, however, among the students and faculty at the Dearborn Academy which rents space in the Armenian Community Center for a school. Having the Academy has posed no serious problems for St. Sarkis since the space that the schools rents belongs to the Armenian Community Center. Each is run by a separate board of directors, and no church member serves on both, and each has its own function. St. Sarkis ministers to the community's religious needs while the Armenian Community Center works independently, meeting their own goals and agenda. The Community Center is the political and cultural center of the Armenian community. Prior to renting space to the Dearborn Academy, there was an Armenian school. It was closed, however, due to lack of support.

The Congregation and Church Activities

The congregation of St. Sarkis numbers approximately 700 people, almost all Armenian. Consequently, a major focus of St. Sarkis Church is support of the Armenian community and promotion of Armenian culture. In the narthex of the church, there is a glass bookcase that exhibits texts on the Armenian genocide, great painters, and Armenian dictionaries. The language used during most of the liturgy is Armenian. In casual conversation, English is used. Special programs at St. Sarkis include weekly religion and Armenian classes. There is a Sunday school for young people and spiritual retreats for adults. Services are on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.