The genesis of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church began in April of 1985, with the first Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, then primate of the Western Diocese. 

The first Parish Council meeting was presided by the Primate and held at the residence of Paul and Rose Hachigian. At this meeting, Mr. Hachigian was elected as the first Parish Council Chairman. The parish was then named “the Armenian Apostolic Church of Newport Beach.”