Press TV, Iran
June 21 2009
Iran’s Qara Kelisa to exhibit Armenian art
Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:11:01 GMT
Iran’s West-Azarbaijan Province is to hold an exhibition at Qara
Kelisa, presenting artifacts created by the country’s Armenian
artists.
The event, to be held from July 22 to 26, 2009, will display various
forms of handicrafts and artistic creations on the theme of ‘church’.
Organized by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism office in
West-Azarbaijan Province, the exhibition will commemorate the
martyrdom of one of the apostles of Jesus, Saint Thaddeus, who
constructed Qara Kelisa (Black Church) in 68 CE.
Every year scores of Armenians, Assyrians and Catholics from Iran and
other countries visit the church to commemorate the martyrdom of Saint
Thaddeus and his followers.
Perched on a mountain ridge south of the city of Maku, Qara Kelisa is
one of the oldest and most notable surviving Christian monuments of
Iran and carries great significance for the country’s Armenian
Orthodox community.
Armenians believe the church is the world’s first church and was
constructed by Saint Thaddeus, after he traveled to Armenia, then part
of the Persian Empire, to preach the teachings of Christ.
Qara Kelisa has been registered as the ninth Iranian
historical-cultural heritage site on the United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
TE/HGH