Armenians first traveled to Java towards the end of the 18th century. They established several well-known commercial houses engaged in trade with overseas markets. History Armenian Church in Surabaya Armenians built a church in each settlement. In 1831, a famous Armenian merchant in Batavia, Jacob Arrathoon, who represented the firm of Shamirians in India, erected a wooden church calling it the Church of St Hripsima, later renamed the Church of Holy Resurrection. The wooden church was damaged by fire in early 1844. Jacob Arrathoon quickly repaired the damage, but died shortly after on January 19. His widow Mary replaced the wooden church with one of stone and mortar; it was completed in 1854, and was renamed the Church of St John. Mrs Mary Arrathoon and by her maiden sister Thagoohie Manook supported the church financially. Both sisters inherited the entire wealth of their bachelor brother George Manook, who had devoted a part of this legacy towards construction of this stone church. The church was situated in a very central part of Batavia (Jakarta), on the crossroads of the famous Royal Park renamed Medan Merdeka. In 1961, the new Indonesian government claimed the ground on which the Armenian church stood since 1831, and the church was demolished. Only 20 people were left in Batavia (Jakarta) of the Armenian community after the exodus. The last church service was offered by Rev Aramais Mirzaian, who had come from Sydney. The Surabaya church was built by the same benefactors who built the Armenian church of St. John in Batavia. It was the centre of religious, social, educational, and national life of Armenians in Surabaya. Beside the church, there were living quarters for the priest and his family. There was the Edgar Hall with a stage for performing stage plays, concerts, lecturers and singers coming sometimes from overseas. The Manook Arrathoon school had three classrooms where Armenian religion history was taught twice a week on Mondays, and Thursdays from 4 to 6 in the afternoons. Sunday school was also held there. World War II and the Battle of Surabaya During the Japanese occupation, many Armenians were imprisoned, harassed and killed. Some were arrested by the Kempeitai, tortured and later released. The British with the Gurkhas bombarded Surabaya, causing the Indonesians to rebel. In the suburb of Kranggan many people were killed and their bodies not found. Among them were five Armenian men who were beheaded