Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church

Soorp Khatch (Holy Cross) Church is an Armenian Apostolic Church just outside Washington, DC. Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian is the pastor to congregation with over 500+ members. Join us for services and community activities every Sunday! Soorp Khatch (Holy Cross) Church in Bethesda , Maryland is one of the Armenian Apostolic churches in Washington , D.C. area. It is the outgrowth of many years of cohesive struggle and resolute desire of the Armenians settled in this area to worship freely and continue the cultural traditions of a people who endured massacres and the first Genocide of the 20th century perpetrated against them by the Turks.
A great number of Armenians who fled or escaped the massacres of 1890’s and 1909, came to these shores in search of a haven where they could enjoy a peaceful existence free of periodic persecutions and extermination. They were followed by survivors of 1915 Genocide. They settled in New England , Metropolitan New York , Detroit , and California .
By late 1920’s to early 1930’s a small number of Armenian immigrant families and individuals joined those who lead settled in the nation’s capital in earlier years, when the first Armenian Ambassador, Dr. Garo Pasdermadjian had established the diplomatic mission of the first free and independent Republic of Armenia.
During and after World War II a greater influx of Armenians some of whom were born in the U.S. moved to Washington D.C. The enlarged community was in need of a church, a commun