Saint Mary Church

Saint Mary Church, located on Jomhouri-ye Eslami Street (Mirza Kuchak Khan Jangali) in Tehran, is one of the most important and beautiful Armenian churches in Iran. The church was built in 1324 SH (1945 CE) at the personal expense of a benefactor, Roman Isayan, and is known as the first Armenian cathedral in Tehran. On 12 Bahman 1381, the building was registered as one of Iran's national monuments under registration number 7237.

The architecture of Saint Mary Church combines traditional Armenian styles with modern architecture. The church has a cross-shaped plan and a twelve-sided dome with twelve windows, symbolizing the twelve apostles of Jesus (PBUH). The building stands on a large platform of about 550 square metres and is built of grey basalt stone. The interior of the church is decorated with murals, religious icons and Armenian artworks, which give the space a spiritual and artistic atmosphere.

The design of the main dome of this church is influenced by Byzantine architecture and differs from traditional Armenian architecture. The main entrance is on the west side and has a portal in the style of Armenian churches of the 4th and 5th centuries CE; by reducing the thickness of the two side walls and adding decorative columns, it gives the entrance a distinctive beauty. In addition to serving as a place for religious ceremonies, Saint Mary Church also houses the Armenian Ethnographic Museum (the Archbishop Ardak Manukian Museum), which was established in 1396 SH (2017 CE). The museum introduces the history, culture and traditions of Iran's Armenians, and visiting it offers tourists a rich experience of Armenian culture and history.