ARMENIAN CATHOLICS BUILDING ON THEIR FAITH.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Catholic Armenians will soon have a church of their own after years of having to travel to downtown Los Angeles to worship.

The 1,200 Catholic Armenian families in Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena will fill the new St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church when construction is slated to be complete in March.

``It was a necessity for the people,'' said the Rev. Raphael Minassian, who has overseen construction of the new church.

Minassian, currently the pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in downtown Los Angeles, bought the property a year ago and is still working to raise the $4.5 million it will take to complete the project. The First Christian Church congregation used to meet on the lot, and that building is being expanded and renovated, Minassian said.

The new church, on Mountain Street across from Glendale Community College, marries traditional and modern religious architecture and design, said Aram Alajajian of the Glendale architecture firm Alajajian & Marcoosi.

Alajajian said he studied the first Christian churches in Armenia to help in the design. Windows near the roof allow in as much light as possible.

``When people come into the church, they look up because that's where God is,'' Alajajian said.

Modern paintings and traditional stained-glass images are planned throughout the main worship hall, Alajajian said.

The design also includes a library and computer center with a large window that looks north to the Verdugo Mountains. A social hall is directly across from where services will be held. And in between, there is a courtyard with a fountain.

Being directly across the street from Glendale Community College will allow the church to work more closely with youths, Minassian said. He hopes they will use the church to discover or strengthen their faith.

``We have a big opportunity to take care of the youth,'' he said.

Minassian said he agreed to buy the lot although he had no money for it, and traveled to Lebanon and Rome before the Vatican agreed to loan him enough for the down payment. In the last year, he has raised some $1 million.

How will he get the rest of the money?

``Praying,'' he said. ``God will take care of us.''

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Photo:

The Rev. Raphael Minassian is seen against a background of construction on St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer