Learn more about our project:

Who We Are
Founders Circle
Commitments and Pledges
Ground Blessing Ceremony
Progress to Date
Concept Designs
Our Property
Fundraising Targets & Key Dates
Founders Circle
Naming Opportunities, Donor Programs and Stocks & Securities Donations
Letter from our Pastor and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Who we are:

Soorp Khatch Armenian Church (built 1965)
Hamasdegh Armenian School (Pre-K through 8th grade)
Ladies Guild
Armenian Relief Society (ARS) "Satenig" Chapter
Homenetmen DC (Scouts, Social, Athletics)
Armenian Youth Federation "Ani" Chapter
Hamazkayin DC (Cultural, Dance)
ARF "Sebouh" Gomideh

Founders Circle

Those who give $100,000+ to pay off the mortgage of this exceptional Potomac property will be part of the Founders Circle. Your generosity as a Founder will be inscribed for generations to come on the Founders Wall of our new church. Above all, you will be leaving a lasting legacy for the future of the Armenian community in the nation’s capital.

For a limited time, we are offering a special incentive to those who join the Founders Circle by May 2024. In recognition of your early support for this project, we commit that in the unlikely event that the project does not move forward, proceeds of the property’s sale will be used to return your Founders Circle donation.

Current Members:

Ara & Haygo Melkonian
Maral Nakashian
Dombalagian Family
Aram & Lorig Sarafian
Samig & Varteni Jarian
Anonymous Donor

Commitments & Pledges:

Thanks to the generosity and faith of our community, we have commitments for $400k on our way to paying off the mortgage, which is our immediate financial goal. In addition, we have obtained pledges for $1.5 million toward construction.

Ground Blessing Ceremony

Progress to Date:

Acquired land
We meet all Montgomery County requirements for permitting
- We have met majority of site preparations for County Permitting
- Environmental Study
- Removed legacy septic tank system
- We meet Requirement for County’s Tree Save Conservation to be able to build maximum square footage on our property

Stormwater Management
Traffic Study
Combined two parcels of land into one 5.4 Acre Parcel
Hired Owner's Representative to conduct Architect selection process via RFP
Selected Davis Carter Scott as our Architect firm by RFP Selection
Completed concept design and have begun Engineering Drawing for permitting application

Concept Designs

Our Property

Fundraising Targets & Key Dates

Phase 1A - $3.3 million by June 2024
- Pay off property loan
  - Bank has committed to approving construction loan with available equity
- Complete Engineering Drawings
- Complete Montgomery County Permitting
- Demolition of existing building
- Ground Blessing by Vehapar in November of 2023
Phase 1B - $4.5 million by January 2025
- Complete Construction of Community Center including the Fellowship Hall and Hamasdegh Armenian School
  - 275 Person Hall with modern amenities
  - We will have a commercial kitchen
  - 120 Parking Spaces
  - Hamasdegh School will operate 10+ Classrooms
  - Potential for strong rental income - Halls for rent with adequate parking space are in high demand in the area
Phase 2 - $4 million by November 2025
- Build new church
- Sell existing church
- Move into our new home

Naming Opportunities, Donor Programs, Stocks & Securities

For more information on naming opportunities, donor programs or donating stocks and securities, please contact the church office at (301) 229-8742 or chair@soorpkhatch.org

Letter from our Pastor and the Chairman of Board of Trustees

Dear Soorp Khatch Church Members and Supporters,

There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child, well, similarly, it takes the whole community to care for and support the vision and mission of our church.

Soorp Khatch Church was founded 58 years ago, when a few parishioners came together and established a home for us and we are eternally grateful for their boldness, vision and sacrifices. The church has always been the center of our community and our people. During the past 58 years, it has delivered faith, hope and love to our community through Sunday services and sacraments and a sense of national pride through community events. Since then, our community has grown and evolved. It’s important to acknowledge the contributions of our leaders and community members as we get ready to move into the next phase of our future.

In January a meeting was held to update our community on the status of the property on River Road, the site of our future church and community center. At that meeting it was shared that a Phase I of the project is to build the community center. The community center will be able to accommodate Hamasdegh school, hold our annual events and can be used to generate rental income to help as we move into future phases of the project, including building the sanctuary.

We have reached a critical point in this project. Fundraising efforts have begun in order to make this long-awaited dream a reality. Our new home will not be built without your generous financial support. Our goal is to raise $4 million dollars by November of this year so that we can alleviate the debt on the property and to start to build the community center. Every dollar counts, you have the option to make a recurring donation regardless how small or large on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. We have also set up the means to be able to receive donations via stocks, bonds or property. If everyone gives to the best of their ability, we can bring this plan to fruition. As a 501(c)3 organization, your donations are fully tax deductible.

We need to come together as a community and embrace the vision of our future home. Our community and future generations need a home to ensure we preserve our Armenian religion, heritage and our identity. We will successfully build our new home together for each and every member of this community to enjoy, for our children and future generations to grow and flourish together as Armenians. You have the opportunity to leave a rich legacy with your family’s name (naming rights) ingrained for years to come as a generous contributing member of our community. Let us leave a rich legacy for our children and grandchildren just as founding members of our community did for this building 58 years ago.

We look forward to your positive response. Your ongoing support is deeply appreciated. If you have questions or want more details about the project, please call the church office at (301) 229-8742 or chair@soorpkhatch.org.

Prayerfully,

Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Pastor

Soorp Khatch New Church & Community Center Project

By Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church

Soorp Khatch New Church & Community Center Project

Phase 1A - Community Center - 9490 River Rd, Potomac, MD 20854, USA