Vank Cathredal, Esfehan:

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/6022/461114611tgjccfph3da.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1756/461111554xghhueph5ex.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9889/461113289klihbvph3xe.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/CyrusShahmiri/2005-07-30_141543_Church3.JPG

http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/CyrusShahmiri/2005-08-01_123356_Church11.jpg

http://img1.travelblog.org/Photos/3265/9833/f/39718-Vank-cathedral-Heaven-and-Hell-0.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2323/prayernichofsansurvank2safavid.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8502/ImageNews/850204/31_850204_L600.jpg



St. Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran, Iran

http://www.iranyellowpages.net/Images/About_iran/Art_gallery/Tehran/Tehran005.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/CyrusShahmiri/2005-08-16_141720_Sarkis.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=21908001.JPG

http://www.payvand.com/news/05/apr/armenians-march-tehran1.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8502/ImageReports/8502040384/10_8502040384_L600.jpg

http://www.iid.org.ir/iidf/Gallery/pak-(17).jpg

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/7813/528224233risblmph6gr.jpg

http://mehrnews.com/mehr_media/image/2006/04/188968_orig.jpg

St. Thaddeus Cathedral, Maku, Iran

http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/CyrusShahmiri/2005-07-11_150235_11.jpg

http://chnphotoagency.ir/pattern.php?image=BLACK1~5.jpg

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/5463/474124666okgnxbph1op.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6330/177874115ifbsbdph1si.jpg[

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2459/254xi.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5165/30yn.jpg http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/7678/200on.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=BLACK7~1.jpg

http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/8782/268ef.jpg

Shiraz

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2779/27516334dvjiarghkqph8qa.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3208/27516312dnrndggjdfph8ej.jpg

Virgin Mary Church, Oromieh:

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=fr-jame-mosqu-06.jpg

Serkis Church, Oromieh:

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=fr-serkis-church--00.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=fr-serkis-church--02.jpg

Abadan:

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7269/abadanpayamenouruniv2qx.jpg

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9090/48764571cjxxfmph3qu.jpg

St Mary church, Tehran:

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=DSC_3008.jpg

Old church near Tabriz:

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4369/72985934vuzedfph1pa.jpg

Virgin Mary church, Mazandaran:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8743/2343121400087423298fogotzph1af.jpg

Nice churches I love the last pic.

yes your right.. that last picture is so nice.. it looks so peaceful :)
i love iran :D

Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, Tehran, Iran

http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/CyrusShahmiri/2005-09-02_030619_Greek1.JPG

http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/CyrusShahmiri/2005-09-02_030706_Greek2.JPG

http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/CyrusShahmiri/2005-09-02_030748_Greek3.JPG

Church of Saint Stephanos, Jolfa, Iran

http://iranmiras.ir/photos/bldg_lpics/lbldg-2338-2.jpg

The church of Saint Stephanos has been built inside a large castle with seven high towers for protecting it, the church'architectural style is a mixture of Urartian, Persian, Greek and Roman styles.

http://iranmiras.ir/photos/bldg_lpics/lbldg-2338-1.jpg

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/3/38/Stephanus.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_8555.jpg http://zarira.com/images_estepanoos/estepanoos03_jpg.jpg

http://zarira.com/images_estepanoos/estepanoos15_jpg.jpghttp://zarira.com/images_estepanoos/estepanoos16_jpg.jpg

Church of St Stephanos is my favorite. :cheers:

intersting how the one church had a muslim styled dome on it

Wow...... Which of the churches is Roman Catholic????

Yes! Actually the reason why it looks like a Mosque.

In the beginning of the 17th century Shah Abbas brought over 150 000 Armenians to Isfahan. He knew that they were a valuable asset to Persia, the Armenian were well known as a highly industrious people and he wanted to treat them well and ensure that they settled into Persia well.

The treatment the Christian Armenians received brought about resentment from the non-christian population, and so Shah Abbas decreed that any Churches that were to be built should be built as Mosques on the outside and Churches on the inside so as not to inflame local opinions which could have led to a potentially damaging backlash.

Wow...... Which of the churches is Roman Catholic????

I don't think any of these are Roman Catholic exept possibly the ones in Orumieh, but I'm not sure. There aren't many Catholics in Iran. The Christians there are mostly Orthodox and Protestant. :)

Virgin Mary church is serrounded by the most beautiful scenary ever..

I don't think any of these are Roman Catholic exept possibly the ones in Orumieh, but I'm not sure. There aren't many Catholics in Iran. The Christians there are mostly Orthodox and Protestant. :)


^ That sucks that there is not too many choices in religion........ Great pix by the way!

This thread has just been stamped as "saved"
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/2448/savedu.png

St. Thaddeus
http://www.payvand.com/news/04/jul/qara-kilisa-church-iran1.jpg
http://www.payvand.com/news/07/jul/Qara-Kelisa-black-church.jpg

St. Stephanus
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0aCNco96rg3Jw/610x.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/162728860_d4008b575e.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/162727740_a1975a83af.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/73/162728941_bee7d90586.jpg?v=0

Nice churches!:)

Wow...... Which of the churches is Roman Catholic????

St. Mary's church in Tehran is Roman Catholic church.
All the rest of the churches are either Eastern Orthodox churches or Armenian Orthodox churches.
By the way, Eastern Orthodox church outdates the first catholic church, which is the first non-eastern church in the world by almost 150 years. The first Eastern Orthodox church was founded on 70 A.D. while the fist catholic church was established in 320 A.D.
So, even Christianity was first accepted in near east and middle east before it was accepted by the Europeans after Constantine established the first catholic church.

Beautiful!

I like the styles of churches:)

[B]Virgin Mary church, Mazandaran:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8743/2343121400087423298fogotzph1af.jpg

The combination of the church and the amazing landscape makes this one of the most spectacular views in the world I think! :cheers:

St. Mary's church in Tehran is Roman Catholic church.
All the rest of the churches are either Eastern Orthodox churches or Armenian Orthodox churches.
By the way, Eastern Orthodox church outdates the first catholic church, which is the first non-eastern church in the world by almost 150 years. The first Eastern Orthodox church was founded on 70 A.D. while the fist catholic church was established in 320 A.D.
So, even Christianity was first accepted in near east and middle east before it was accepted by the Europeans after Constantine established the first catholic church.

Well, there were no Orthodox/Catholic divisions at the time! The split came in 1054, although Rome and Constantinople had started drifting apart since around 800 AD. Constantine was based in Constantinople but was the head of the whole Roman Empire - not only the churches but not even the Roman State had split during his time.

Well, there were no Orthodox/Catholic divisions at the time! The split came in 1054, although Rome and Constantinople had started drifting apart since around 800 AD. Constantine was based in Constantinople but was the head of the whole Roman Empire - not only the churches but not even the Roman State had split during his time.

Eastern Orthodox Church has never been part of the Roman Catholic Church. So, the split you are talking about is irrelevant.

St. Mary's church in Tehran is Roman Catholic church.
All the rest of the churches are either Eastern Orthodox churches or Armenian Orthodox churches.
By the way, Eastern Orthodox church outdates the first catholic church, which is the first non-eastern church in the world by almost 150 years. The first Eastern Orthodox church was founded on 70 A.D. while the fist catholic church was established in 320 A.D.
So, even Christianity was first accepted in near east and middle east before it was accepted by the Europeans after Constantine established the first catholic church.

Of course ME was the first place to practice Christianity. Didn't you here the story that the Iranian Magis went to visit the new born Jesus and came back to Persia and made the first church in Iran? This is only a story though.

Arash Jon,
As you mentioned it is just a story. Even if it isn't, there are no evidence of it remaining either in written format or actual monuments.
What I am talking about is very well documented and can be proven easily. That's why Catholic Church has never disputed this fact and recognizes all the Eastern Orthodox Churches as legitimate heirs of the original Churches and the patriarchs and deacons of these churches as valid priests.

I might add that there are efforts on the part of the Roman Catholic Church, in this day and age, to eliminate the Eastern Orthodox Church. They are trying this by dividing the middle eastern christians into regional groups with fictional ethnic backgrounds and placing them under Roman Catholic Church heirarchy. There is a big resistance against this move and their success is very limited even though they are pouring a lot of money and effort into it.

^^ Yes, but my point was (as was yours, if i'm not mistaken) That it was the eastern churches that are the oldest Christian churches.
BTW noonghandi, I believe you have the Assyrian church flag as your avatar, are you Assyrian by any chance and/or follow the Assyrian church? just wondering.

^^ Yes, but my point was (as was yours, if i'm not mistaken) That it was the eastern churches that are the oldest Christian churches.
BTW noonghandi, I believe you have the Assyrian church flag as your avatar, are you Assyrian by any chance and/or follow the Assyrian church? just wondering.

I am Assyrian-Iranian.
As you know, Assyrians and Iranian cultures have interacted before Iran's declared kingdom 2500 years ago. 2500 years ago they became one.
Iran is the only country in the world that recognizes Assyrians as a minority.
Assyrians are the first group of people that converted to Christianity as a whole.

And the flag you asked about, it is not the flag of our church. It is our national flag.

^^ That's cool.
Yes, in fact it was the ancient Assyrians that first reported about the ancient Indo-Iranian peoples.
Question, what is the relationship with the Assyrians and Babylonians, if there is any? Also do Assyrians correspond with other churches like Eastern Orthodox churches? And I heard there is a tension between the Assyrian and Armenian community, what is that all about?

As far as Assyrians and Babylonians are concerned, they are the same people. Babylon, Assur, and Neinava were different capitals at different times and kingdoms. The closest example would be different Persian kingdoms like, Safavid from Isfahan, Pahlavi from Mazandaran and Achamenides from Pars... These are all Persians, as those were all Assyrians. The study of Mesopotamia is called Assyriology. The comparison is even closer in Assyrian-Babylonian case because they are the same people racially. Unlike Iranians that may be from different races all mesopotamian people were from the same race.
There is no real tension between Assyrians and Armenians that I am aware of. At least none in the past 2500 years. Armenians and Assyrians are completely different people and had some tensions in the ancient time. The only thing common between Armenians and Assyrians is their Christianity. This fact has caused them to get even closer in countries like Iran. Armenians population in Iran is 20 times greater than Assyrians.
Assyrian Eastern Orthodox Church is completely independent and is not affiliated with any other church in the world. However, as they have the Orthodox part of the name in common, their rituals inside the church and their beliefs are very close. Current patriarch of the Assyrian church is from Iran and resides in Chicago. His position is as high as Catholic Pope for all Eastern Orthodox Churches. These churches can be found all over middle east and other countries nowadays. Since Assyrians have spread all over the world, one can find Assyrian churches everywhere including, Brazil, Sweden, France, England, USA...
Assyrians population has dwindled in Iran since Islamic Revolution. My father, before he left Iran, went to Ormieh to document the Assyrian churches in the area. He has photographed and documented over 120 churches in that area alone. Ormieh was and still is one of the Assyrian centers of the world. By the way Ormieh is an Assyrian name. There are other Assyrian names in Iran which I can list, if you are interested.

^^ Interesting, thanks. What are some of the other names?

Eastern Orthodox Church has never been part of the Roman Catholic Church. So, the split you are talking about is irrelevant.

I never said it was. What I said is that there was ONE church as there was ONE state (still called Roman Empire) in the early centuries AD. THERE WAS NO "Eastern Orthodox" and "Roman Catholic" Church before the schism. The bishops of Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem were overseeing the one, undivided church, each of them obviously governing his territory. As I said before, this drifting apart started way before the final schism of 1054, around 800 AD. The claim of the bishop of Rome that he should be above the rest was one of the reasons. Obviously the fact that the western half of the Roman Empire was no longer part of the same (Byzantine) state, facilitated the fallout...

what's the percentage of Christians in Iran now?

^^280000 Christians, that means 0,039% of the population of Iran which is 72000000 people.

^^ Interesting, thanks. What are some of the other names?

Here are two more names that may surprise you:
Tehran - means koohpayeh in Persian.

Shemiran - is the name of an Assyrian queen. She is one of the contention points between Armenians and Assyrians. She fell in love with an Armenian prince and since he did not care for her, she attacked Armenia, killed the prince and banned the Armenian language. By the way, her Greek name is Semiramis.

Urmieh - Ur, if you remember, is the name of the place Ibrahim, the prophet was from. It means a place (city). Mieh, means water (for the lake). Collectively, it means city of water.

One more thing that is interesting to know,
Anukin - the name of DarthWader in Star Wars is also an Assyian name. I know a lot of Assyrians with that name. It means Anu/space, Kin/judge; Anukin=space judge.

^^ Fascinating information! I always liked the name Semiramis, as we call it, but I didn't know where it came from! :cheers:

Here are two more names that may surprise you:
Tehran - means koohpayeh in Persian.

Shemiran - is the name of an Assyrian queen. She is one of the contention points between Armenians and Assyrians. She fell in love with an Armenian prince and since he did not care for her, she attacked Armenia, killed the prince and banned the Armenian language. By the way, her Greek name is Semiramis.

Urmieh - Ur, if you remember, is the name of the place Ibrahim, the prophet was from. It means a place (city). Mieh, means water (for the lake). Collectively, it means city of water.

One more thing that is interesting to know,
Anukin - the name of DarthWader in Star Wars is also an Assyian name. I know a lot of Assyrians with that name. It means Anu/space, Kin/judge; Anukin=space judge.

interesting, but I believe that Shemran is actually the arabized version of Avestan Chamiran which means "cold mount/slope" and I believe mention in the Avesta (a similar meaning with "Tehran") but I might be wrong. Interesting about Anikin though, thats a cool fact.

interesting, but I believe that Shemran is actually the arabized version of Avestan Chamiran which means "cold mount/slope" and I believe mention in the Avesta (a similar meaning with "Tehran") but I might be wrong. Interesting about Anikin though, thats a cool fact.

I can't disagree with you on this because I have not read Avesta and I don't know much about ancient Iranian languages. However, I know that in ancient times Assyrian(old Aramaic) language was as widespread and popular as English is today. All cuneiform Iranian monuments have equivalent Assyrian translations in the same place because the Assyrian language was more widely known and practiced in those times. And, I know for a fact that there are a lot of Assyrian words and phrases that have been used in Iranian languages.