Travel blogger/travel agent
Celebrating the Nativity of Christ in Iran
Islam is the official religion of Iran. However, in the Qur'an and Hadiths, Jesus is mentioned many times as a prophet.
About 300,000-370,000 Christians live freely in Iran, believing that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world. They also celebrate the Nativity of Christ.
Most Christians in Iran are Iranian Armenians.
Most of the Azerbaijani province of Iran has been a residential area of the Armenian people since ancient times. There were about 180 beautiful and beautiful churches in this region. Some of these churches are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The monasteries of St. Thaddeus and St. Stepan and the Dzorzor chapel were built in the 1st century AD.
Currently, Armenian Christians live in cities such as Tehran, Urmia, Tabriz and Isfahan. They are followers of the Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity and therefore celebrate Christmas at the same time as Epiphany, on January 6th.
Assyrians, Catholics, Protestants and Evangelical Christians also living in Iran celebrate Christmas on December 25.
Iran has 600 churches that hold special services on Christmas Eve.
In recent years, during Christmas in Iran, Christmas trees have been decorated, nativity
scenes with scenes of the birth of Christ have been staged.
Many shops decorate their windows with confetti, Christmas balls and Santa Claus figurines.
Festive Christmas decorations and celebrations take place all over the country, especially in major cities like Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and even religious cities like Mashhad.
The most beautiful Christmas festival in Iran takes place in the Armenian quarter of Isfahan - Jolfa. It feels like you are in Armenia. People there speak Armenian with a charming accent. Coffee shops in the Jolfa area serve delicious coffee. There are several famous churches there, such as the Vank Cathedral and St. Mary's Church.
On Christmas Day in Iran (January 6), Armenian Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with a traditional chicken stew called harissa or roast turkey.