St. Stepanous Church

St. Stepanous, the second Church of Armenians in Iran was built  in a remote area near Jolfa in 9th century.This UNESCO World Heritage Site is set against the dramatic backdrop of the surrounding hills. The elaborate brickwork on the facade of its central dome is an outstanding example of Armenian decorative tradition. This monastery is still a pilgrimage site and you can visit there while you’re in Azarbayjan province.

our guests in St. Stepanous church

Saint Stephanous Church

Christians in Iran were present in small numbers in both pre-Islamic and Islamic Persia but were mostly concentrated in the upper north of the country, in Julfa, close to what is today the border between Iran and Azerbaijan. It is not surprising that one of the oldest and most enduringly popular churches in Iran, Saint Stephanous Church, has been located in this area. The name of this church comes from the Holy Stephens who is the symbol of faith among the Christians. He was the first person who was stoned and killed due to the prejudice and resentment of Jews. The general structure of Saint Stephanous Church mostly resembles Armenian and Georgian architecture and the inside of the building is adorned with beautiful paintings by a renowned Christian artist. The stony building of the church is cylindrical and a cone-shaped dome covers it. Three main parts of the church are the transept and polygonal dome, Bell tower and Daniel’s stove. Scholars and historians recorded that the church was originally built in the ninth century AD, but repeated earthquakes in Azarbaijan completely eroded the previous structure and the church was rebuilt during the rule of Shah Abbas II. Take a look at Iran North by Northwest tour including a visit to Church of Saint Stephanous and see what this tour offers.

Saint Stephanous Church,Jolfa,Iran

Une promenade dans le quartier Jolfa

La Nouvelle Jolfa est un très beau quartier arménien avec une architecture contrastée et intéressante au cœur d'Ispahan. Ce quartier invite à flâner sur ses ruelles pavées en regardant les belles maisons avec des murs de briques dans un silence agréable et paisible qui en font une zone nostalgique et charmante, où vous souhaitez vous promener pendant des heures et puis boire du café dans les nombreux cafés situés sur la place qui est le lieu de rassemblement de tous les jeunes de la ville.

La cathédrale Vank

2 Day tours from Orumieh.

Orumieh, the capital of Western Azerbaijan province is a mountainous and beautiful city located in the northwest of Iran. Despite the numerous ancient heritages hidden around Orumieh, this area is an untouched and uncovered land for many travelers. Here are the two day tours that you can take (private and group tours) while you are in Orumieh:

Takht e Suleiman. Orumieh-Iran

Jolfa district of Isfahan.

 Shah Abbas I, the Safavid king since 1587 B.C, displaced the Armenians, who lived in Jolfa city of Azerbaijan region (northwest of Iran) to Isfahan and paid a lot of attention to them. Gradually, other Armenians of Iran migrated to Isfahan and many Armenians were gathered in Isfahan. Shah Abbas built them big houses and Cathedrals and they named their district "Jolfa".

Jolfa is a very beautiful district and its architecture shows an interesting contrast in the heart of Isfahan. The cobblestone alleys lighted by old poles, the nice houses with brick walls and the pleasant and peaceful silence, make the whole district a nostalgic and lovely area, where you like to stroll in, for hours.

The vank cathedral in Jolfa district of Isfahan.