The Armenians trace their origin to 3,000 BC and at one time Armenia covered nearly the whole of Asia Minor. Armenia lies between the Black and Caspian Seas and is now one-tenth of what it used to be. The Armenians are Aryans by race, Christian by religion. In fact, they claim to be the first Christian nation in the world. They came to India in the sixteenth century as peaceful traders and here they found religious and secular freedom, property and peace and India became a second home to them. They settled down in Surat, Agra, Mumbai, Madras and Bengal, which were important trading centres. Today, their community is a small one, countable in hundreds. They are deeply religious and their life centres round their church.

History Of Armenian Community: the Armenians consolidated themselves from the times of the Mughal reign. Their main center of activity was initially located at Surat, Gujarat. Later they shifted to Mumbai and Kolkata.

The Armenians were among the pioneers of the jute trade in Dacca in the last century. It was monopolised by the firm of M. David and Co. and some other Armenians. The former firm is a part of Jardine Henderson and Co. and later has been absorbed into James Finlay and Co.

There were Armenians in the coal industry also. There was an Apcar and Co. which owned ships (the Apcar Line) and collieries. One of the Apcars was the president of the Bengal Club and the Bengal Chamber of Commerce, the only non-British person to hold these positions.

The Armenians were among the first to deal in shellac. They owned factories and exported shellac to all parts of the world. J.C. Galstaun who started out in shellac and then went into real estate, was the richest Calcutta Armenian in his time. He is said to have built over three hundred houses and to have owned over a hundred race horses. A. Stephen built the Grand Hotel, Mount Everest Hotel, Stephen Mansions and Stephen House, which are no more in Armenian hands, and T.M. Thaddeus built and owned Park Mansions.

What the Armenians achieved, secured and consolidated, they gradually dissipated, probably because each built for himself and so when he went the business went with him. Many have begun to move out of India but there are a few hundreds left and there is considerable wealth in their churches.