Seda Gbranian-Melkonian

The year was 1890. Reverends Haroutioun Jenanyan, Nazareth Spenchian and Gebriel Baghdoyan set foot in California's San Joaquin Valley. They had left their beautiful homeland Armenia behind. They gazed at the Sierra Nevada mountains and the memory of their homeland filled their souls. The three men were in search of a new home. It took them almost eleven years to understand that the one place in all America that came closest to resembling their homeland in Armenia was the San Joaquin Valley.

In 1901 Reverend Jenanyan purchased land there and named the place Yettem, which means Eden. New comers from the old country purchased small lots from Jenanyan and made it their new home.  With new Armenians arriving from the region of Cilicia, a community of farmers was formed, who belonged to the Armenian Presbyterian and the Armenian Apostolic churches. The Armenian Presbyterians had their worship in small school building.

In 1903 the Armenian Apostolic church had its first worship service on Pentecost Sunday at the same school building. After the worship of the Presbyterians, in the afternoon, the Apostolic liturgy took place.

Also in 1903 the name Yettem was officially adopted. This was going to be the only place in the United States of America with a pure Armenian name. The new settlers, most of them villagers from the old country, cultivated the land growing fruits and vegetables.

From 1904 to 1909 church services were held in the Yettem school building. In 1909 the first Parish Council Choir and Building Committees were organized and in May of that year, the cornerstones of a new church were blessed. In January 1911 construction had begun. The church was a modest wooden building with arched windows and a bell tower in front. It was built mainly by volunteers.

Bishop Moushegh Seropian of Fresno travelled to Yettem and consecrated the new church in the name of St. Mary on July 3.  One year later the Armenian school and Sunday school were established. In 1914 the first Ladies Society was founded in what was to become the Western Diocese and a year later a library was created. In 1922 the first parish priest arrived and since then there have been nine priests who have served at St. Mary's Armenian church.

In 1920 the Yettem community numbered about five hundred people. However, the Great Depression forced many to leave their homes. Young people moved to Fresno and Los Angeles never to return.

On June 12, 1945 the original church was destroyed by fire. In September, 1946 the foundation stones of a new church were blessed. It was built from red bricks using traditional Armenian church design with a dome and a bell tower. The architect was Laurence K. Cone (Condrajian). The new church was consecrated by Bishop Vartan Kasparian on November 16, 1947.

In July, 1960 His Holiness Vazken I Supreme Patriach-Catholicos of All Armenians visited St. Mary parish of Yettem. Later His Holiness Karekin I and His Holliness Karekin II also visited St. Mary parish. Several other high ranking clergy and VIPs from Armenia and the Diaspora also have been the guests of St. Mary parish.

Among these was the unique visitation of General Antranig, who participated in a fund raising event at Yettem in 1920. In mid seventies, with the help of the parish priest Father Vartan Kasparian, the future National Hero of Armenia Monte Melkonian frequently attended the Sunday school at St. Mary’s Church of Yettem.

Currently there is only one Armenian family that has remained in Yettem since its creation. Every Sunday and during holidays parishioners from nearby towns, mostly from Visalia, come to the church, keeping their religion and Armenian traditions alive. Through youth programs the torch is carried from generation to generation, passing on the Armenian heritage. St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church gathers its children around it in a warm and loving embrace, like a caring and affectionate family.