Tokmakjian family boosts St. Mary Church renovation with massive $500,000 gift

TORONTOHYE — Mr. and Mrs. Vahe and Hrip Tokmakjian have made a generous $500,000 donation toward the renovation of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Toronto. As Torontohye reported in Armenian earlier this week, the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church announced the gift with “immense joy,” describing the contribution as a “noble and exemplary devotion to the Church.”

“This generous and large-hearted contribution is a beautiful expression of faith, dedication, and communal responsibility. It is at the same time a powerful testament to the love, loyalty, and deep connection that the sons and daughters of our people hold toward their Holy Church,” read a part of the statement released by the Church Board of Trustees.

St. Mary Church has officially designated 2026 as the ‘Year of Fundraising’ under the theme ‘Built by Faith, Renewed by Community.’ This campaign aims to raise $1 million to fund urgent and essential repairs to the historic building, which was established in 1983 and consecrated in 1990. The Tokmakjian family’s significant contribution covers exactly half of this fundraising goal, providing a major boost to the project’s momentum and long-term success.

Earlier this year, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Deacon Garo Sarkissian, told Torontohye that these renovations are critical to the safety and longevity of the structure, rather than merely aesthetic improvements. The scope of work includes a full replacement of the roof with slate and a complete modernization of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Last year, the church was forced to replace its aging climate control units because they were no longer reliable. Sarkissian noted that, given the extreme cold of Canadian winters and the heat of summers, these repairs were unavoidable, especially since roof leaks were beginning to threaten the building’s structural integrity.

For the Armenian community in Toronto, St. Mary serves as a vital hub for spiritual, educational, cultural, and social services. Deacon Sarkissian emphasized that the church is not just a spiritual home but a guardian of Armenian culture, evidenced by the various cultural events, classes, and concerts hosted to strengthen the community’s identity. Beyond the Divine Liturgy and Sunday services, the church commemorates Feast Days, marks national holidays, and organizes the annual Pilgrimage Week for the Feast of the Assumption. The church also hosts weekly Bible studies, including an online session and a program specifically for youth. On the educational front, the Sunday School and Bible Story Hour for children provide Christian education while teaching the Armenian language and traditions to the younger generation. In their statement of gratitude, the Board expressed their heartfelt thanks to the Tokmakjians and prayed that the Lord abundantly bless them and their family with health, peace, and prosperity for many years to come.

To further support these efforts, an appreciation reception was held on the evening of April 17 at the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto – Թորոնթոյի Հայ կեդրոն. The event was presided over by the Prelate Archbishop Papken Tcharian and served as a rallying point for donors and community members to support the renovation initiative. The evening featured a rich cultural program with musical performances by Maria Daoudian on piano, Nishan Papazian on violin, Krikor Manoukian on duduk, and Armen Bedrossian on saxophone.

The reception was emceed by Deacon Sarkis Kidanian and included several featured speakers. Archpriest Fr. Datev Mikaelian highlighted the sacred significance of the renovation and the importance of collective participation. Deacon Garo Sarkissian delivered a technical presentation on the project’s past and future construction phases, illustrating the various stages and long-term perspectives. Hovig Kouyoumjian also shared remarks on behalf of the ARF Soghomon Tehlirian committee.

The event included a special documentary screening that detailed the church’s history and its mission within the community. Very Rev. Fr. Karekin Shekherdemian, Dean of St. Mary Church, observed that participating in church-building is a spiritual honour and a living testimony of faith. The night concluded with a closing message of appreciation from Archbishop Papken Tcharian for all the organizers, donors, and participants.

(This article was originally published in Torontohye)