Parish Spotlight: St. Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Church Of Fowler

As part of the Centennial Oral History Project, we are introducing a new series: Parish Spotlight.

For nearly a century, the parishes of the Western Diocese have served as places of worship, community, memory, and belonging. Each one carries its own history—built by generations of faithful who prayed together, raised families, preserved traditions, and helped shape the life of the Armenian Church in the Western United States.

Through Parish Spotlight, we will highlight the churches and communities that have formed the fabric of our Diocese. We will share their histories, milestones, photographs, stories, and the people whose dedication helped sustain them across generations.

Some parishes are more than buildings. For many, they are where families gathered, friendships were formed, faith was strengthened, and life itself was shared.

As we journey toward the Centennial in 2027, we invite you to discover the parishes that have helped build the Western Diocese—one community at a time.

St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Fowler CA

St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church was consecrated in Fowler, California, on April 17, 1910, with Rev. Fr. Theodoros Isahagian serving as its first parish priest. As the Armenian population of California’s Central Valley grew, St. Gregory became an important religious and social center for Armenians living throughout Fresno County. By 1920, approximately 9,000 Armenians lived in the county, many of them in surrounding farming communities, and the parish became a gathering place where faith, family life, and Armenian identity could be preserved and passed on. More than a century later, the parish continues that mission in Fowler, serving as both a house of worship and a spiritual home for generations of Armenian families. Today, the parish is served by Rev. Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian, who has led St. Gregory since he was appointed parish priest in 2020.

More than a century later, the parish continues that mission in Fowler, serving as both a house of worship and a spiritual home for generations of Armenian families. Its own parish history describes the church as a place sustained by the determination and faith of its forefathers—a community that continues to gather in worship, fellowship, and service.