Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Saint Nicholas Church
[post_id] => 3540
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/saint-nicholas-church/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/St.-Nicholas-Church-by-Abrar-Razzak-300x201.jpg
[post_content] =>
In 1695, Saint Nicholas Church of Tolentino was constructed at Nagori, 25 kilometres northeast of Dhaka. In 1764, Portuguese missionaries built a church at Padrishibpur in Barisal district. Another Portuguese church was built at Hashnabad, 30 kilometers southwest of Dhaka, in 1777. In 1682, there were 14,120 Roman Catholics in the Bangladesh territory.
As the Bangladeshi Muslims have Arabic and Persian surnames, so do the Portuguese-converted Catholics have Portuguese surnames, such as Gomes, Rozario, DRozario, Cruze, DCruze, Dores, DSilva, DSouza, Costa, DCosta, Palma, Pinheiro, Pereira Rego, Ribeiro, Rodrigues, Serrao, Gonsalves, Corraya, etc. To recognize Catholics by names, the missionaries used to give one Christian name and one of their surnames to the newly baptized person. The later Catholic missionaries from France, USA, Canada, and Italy did not follow the Portuguese in naming the new Christians. They gave one Christian name but did not change the surname of the newly convert.
Presently, the Catholic Church has six dioceses Dhaka, Chittagong, Dinajpur, Khulna, Mymensngh, and Rajshahi with a Catholic population of about 221,000, more than 70 parish churches, 200 priests, 50 Brothers, 700 nuns, 1,000 catechists, and many educational, healthcare, and welfare institutions and organizations.
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Armenian Church
[post_id] => 1413
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/armenian-church/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/14688097-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
The evidence says about Armenian community in the region during 17th to 18th century and their existence. Armenian Church was build in 1781 on Armenian Street in Armanitola. The site was an American graveyard before before the church built. Agaminus Catachik, an Armenian, gave away the land to build the church. Michel Cerkess, Okotavata Setoor Sevorg, Aga Amnius, and Merkers Poges helped build the church.
Mother Teresa stayed in this church during a visit to Dhaka.
In the old graveyard, among the 350 people buried there, a statue stands at the grave of Catachik Avatik Thomas, portraying his wife. The statue was bought from Kolkata and the grave is inscribed with the words "Best of Husband." Following the domination of their homeland by Persian powers of the time, Armenians were sent by their new rulers to the Bengal region for both political and economic reasons. Although the Armenian presence in South Asia is now insignificant, their presence in Dhaka dates back to the 17th century. Armenians came to Dhaka for business, and have been acknowledged for displaying a passion for trade comparable to that of the Bengalis of the time. In Dhaka, Armenian merchants traded in jute and leather, and profitability in these businesses convinced some to move permanently to Bangladesh. The area where they lived became known as Armanitola.
In 1781 the now famous Armenian Church was built on Armenian Street in Armanitola, then a thriving business district. The site was an Armenian graveyard before the church was built, and the tombstones that have survived serve as a chronicle of Armenian life in the area. Agaminus Catachik, an Armenian, gave away the land to build the church. Michel Cerkess, Okotavata Setoor Sevorg, Aga Amnius, and Merkers Poges helped build the church.
In the fifty years following the church's construction, a clock tower was erected on its western side. Allegedly, the clock could be heard four miles away, and people synchronized their watches with the sound of the tower's bell. The clock stopped in 1880, and an earthquake destroyed the tower in 1897. The Armenian played a prominent part in the jute trade in Dhaka and are reputed to be the pioneers of that trade in the second half of the 19th century. Today, the last Armenian that takes cares of the church is Mikhail Hopcef Martirossian (Micheal Joseph Martin). He was also one of the Armenian who was in the jute trade.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Patharghata Catholic Church{:}{:bn}পাথরঘাটা ক্যাথলিক গির্জা{:}
[post_id] => 7030
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/patharghata-catholic-church/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Patharghata-Catholic-Church3-240x300.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Patharghata Catholic Church (also known as Portuguese Catholic Church) is situated at Patharghata in Chittagong district. This beautiful church was established around 500/600 years ago.
This church has a graveyard inside it. People left their beloved person at this grave, and each of the tomb is epitaph by the word from their heart. When you'll read those notes from the tomb, it will just touch your emotion.
Most interesting thing from the church is, it has a grave and where "Sir Henry Leland Harrison" lied. The grave was made by white Marble Stone. Local says, it is an exceptional grave of the church, as the tomb has stairs as passageway inside.
Henry Leland Harrison was a writer, and his book's name is "Bengal Embankment Manual, Containing an Account of the Action of the Government in Dealing with Embankments and Watercourses." It was first published from Calcutta, Bengal Secretariat Press in 1875. From the tomb of the Harrison, it was found that the fellow was died after suffering from a Cholera at 5th May 1892. Henry Harrison was born at February 5th 1837. He was only 55 years of old when He died.
{:}{:bn}
/chittagong-district#eatingfacilities
গির্জার অভ্যন্তরে একটি কবরস্থান রয়েছে যেখানে মানুষ তাঁদের আপনজনকে চিরনিদ্রায় শায়িত করেন এবং কবরের এপিটাফে তাঁদের হৃদয়ের অনুভুতি লিখে রাখেন। এপিটাফের উপর লেখা এসব অনুভুতি আপনার হৃদয় ছুঁয়ে যাবে।
গির্জায় অবস্থিত কবরস্থানে ‘স্যার হেনরি লিল্যান্ড হ্যারিসনের সমাধি রয়েছে। সাদা মার্বেল পাথরে সমাধিটি মোড়ানো হয়েছে। স্থানীয়দের মতে হেনরি লিল্যান্ড হ্যারিসনের সমাধিটি ব্যাতিক্রমধর্মী কারন এই সমাধিতে ভেতরে প্রবেশের জন্য সিঁড়ি রয়েছে। হেনরি লিল্যান্ড হ্যারিসন একজন লেখক ছিলেন। তাঁর লেখা বই বেঙ্গল ইমবেকমেণ্ট ম্যানুয়ালে বাঁধ এবং নদীর প্রবাহ সম্পর্কে সরকারের গৃহীত পদক্ষেপের বর্ণনা রয়েছে। ১৮৭৫ সালে কলকাতার বেঙ্গল সেক্রেটারিয়েট প্রেস থেকে এই বইটি সর্বপ্রথম প্রকাশিত হয়। হ্যারিসনের সমাধির এপিটাফ থেকে জানা যায় তিনি ১৮৩৭ সালের ৫ই ফেব্রুয়ারি জন্মগ্রহন করেন এবং ১৮৯২ সালের ৫ই মে মাত্র ৫৫ বছর বয়সে কলেরাতে ভোগার পর মৃত্যুবরন করেন।
{:}
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Hasnabad Holy Rosary Church
[post_id] => 10274
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/hasnabad-holy-rosary-church/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/19-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Hasnabad Holy Rosary Church is considered as one of the oldest Christian establishments of Dhaka, was established by Portuguese missionaries before the advent of British colonial rulers in India. Traders came to Bengal in 1579 after getting farman a royal decree from Mughal Emperor akbar (1556-1605) for trading, preaching of Christian religion and building of churches there freely. By 1580, a Portuguese settlement including trading houses and places of worship was developed in Dhaka City.
The Portuguese catholic Augustinians constructed two churches named Holy Rosary at Hijli in the 16th century. The Portuguese followers of St. Augustine also built up Churches in Chittagong in 1601, Baleshwar and Rangamati in 1640, Bakergonj (Barisal) in 1764, Hasnabad in 1777 and Tejgaon (Dhaka). This church is located at Hashnabad, 40 kilometres south-west of Dhaka. It is the seventh church in Bengal area.
There is a big open space in front of the church. If someone watches it from the opposite of the ground, it seems like a painted picture. While entering into the compound, firstly visitors will notice Amal Ganguly memorial hall. 'Theotonious'-the servant of God, it highlights on the board in large letters. Opposite of memorial, there is a hostel for sisters named St. Eufrejis Convent. The main church building is adjoining the convent with two minarets. It is such a beautiful art of architecture by the Europeans in Bangladesh.
There is a graveyard at inner side. A big pond is also located in the east. A lot of blooming roses welcome the religious people from the garden. The statue of crucified Jesus Christ reminds how he established his religion and sacrificed his life for the welfare of human kind. The whole church is decorated on the special occasions like Christmas and Star Sunday. In those days, visitors From different places gather there in large number to celebrate.
)
)
