Christianity in Iran can trace its routes back to the early years of the religion, whilst it has always been a minority religion in Iran compared to the major religions of Zoroastrianism in Ancient Persia and Islam since the middle ages it has continued to be a practiced within the country.
There are currently around 600 churches in Iran with the most famous of these being the Vank Cathedral in the Jolfa district of Isfahan. It was constructed during the Safavid Period (1501-1736), whilst the outer construction on the Cathedral resembles traditional Persian architecture and bears some resemblance to a Mosque the interior is a breathtaking work of art with multiple different scenes from the Bible and Christianity.
The predominant Christian sect in Iran is the Armenian Apostolic sect of Christianity, Jolfa was home to over 150,000 displaced Armenian Christians during the Safavid period. Facing Persecution in modern day Azerbaijan, Shah Abbas the Great offered them a home in his capitol city of Isfahan, with the Vank Cathedral being commissioned and paid for by Shah Abbas funding the building also.
To this day the Jolfa region of Isfahan still plays home to many Iranians of Armenian descent and is home to many Armenian Apostolic Christians, and during the Christmas period there are celebrations held in the Cathedral and its grounds, but interestingly Christmas is celebrated on the 6th January and not the 25th December, this is inline with the wider Armenian Church which also celebrate on the 6th January, and instead of a celebration of the Birth of Christ it is a celebration of the Revelation of God.
During this period special Christmas sermons are held and the neighbourhood plays host to many tourists visiting from across Iran, there are Christmas decorations, trees and even instagrammable photo opportunities for young Iranians to share their joy and inside the Cathedral there is a small Christmas market.
