Dating all the way back to the 7th century, located in the most northern corner of Iran near the border of Armenia, stand three of the oldest and most historic monasteries of the Armenian Christian faith: St. Thaddeus, St. Stepanos and the Chapel of Dzordzor. These historic marvels of traditional Armenian art and architecture are the remaining footsteps of their previous intercultural influences, among the Armenian and the regional Persian, Orthodox, Muslim, Assyrian and Byzantine cultures. On the fringe of the Armenian cultural center, these monasteries are the landmark of the introduction and progression of the Armenian Christian culture into the region. These structures are examples of truly genuine Armenian religious tradition that have withstood the test of time and human destruction.
In particular, the St. Thaddeus monastery is presumed to be the genuine tomb of Jesus Christ’s Apostle, Saint Thaddeus and has always been of high spiritual merit to Christians and other inhabitants of the area. Even today, it is still a living place of the Armenian Church pilgrimage.
Main Photo by: MohammadReza Domiri Ganji
City/Town: Jolfa/East Azerbaijan
Address: Jolfa to Araz Shahr Town