St. Vartanantz
Armenian Apostolic Church
Chelmsford, MA
Varoujan completed 46 murals covering the northern and southern walls of St. Vartanantz Church. These paintings include apostles, holy fathers of the Armenian Church, saints, and Dominical feasts.
Varoujan took great pains in executing these murals, conducting serious dialogues and extensive research to resolve questions concerning vestments, compositions and style as affected by doctrinal prescriptions.The artist expressed the linearity of eastern-style iconographic art, yet used vivid colors. He stayed true to ancient mural-art tradition in Armenia and the Byzantine period, although preserving classic form and compositions with subtle shading. He developed great expressiveness in the tufts and drapes of vestments.
In complete departure from the ceramic look of the traditional iconography, Varoujan renders real life features in portrait style. "The faithful can communicate with these saints who profess a real personality, as opposed to simple graphic representations," he said.
The monastery-like church has hosted thousands of passers-by from the north and the south and vacationers from the West coast and the Mid-West. Many have made the "side-trip" to see the murals and expressed their amazement at the depth of feeling and communication seen in the eyes of the saints.
