Documents of three historical churches sent to UNESCO

IRNA
Kashan, Sept 21, IRNA

Iran-Cultural Heritage-UNESCO

Deputy Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism
Organization (CHTO) Taha Hashemi said that documents of three
historical churches in Iran have been sent to the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to be
registered in the world historical monuments.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the organization in Niasar,
Kashan, on Wednesday afternoon, Hashemi named the three churches as;
Tataous known as " Qara Kelisa"( The Black Church), Stepanous and
Zorzor churches.

He added according to the Armenians the Tataous church is the first
church built in the world.

It is located in the West Azerbaijan province.

Hashemi said that Tataous was one of the evangelists close to the
prophet Jesus (PBUH), who came to the northwestern part of Iran,
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

King of Armenia ordered Tataous and his 3,500 followers, including
the king’s daughter (Seendokht) to be killed.

Tataous was buried in the venue of Qara Kelisa area.

300 years later, people built a church on the grave of Tataous and
since then Armenians have held ceremonies there annually.

Stepanous church is located in the East Azerbaijan and it is one of
the oldest churches in the world, too.

Zorzor church is located in the East Azerbaijan province, and is 700
years old.

This church was relocated in 1997 because of building a big dam in
the area and was rebuilt on the top of a hill.

The Iranian official said all documents and maps have been sent to
the UNESCO and its experts are to visit the venues soon, and then
the churches will be in the world heritage list in 2008.

So far, 44 churches from 500 existing churches in Iran have been
registered in the national heritage list.