Chapel of Dzordzor, Armenian Monastic Ensembles – Maku, West Azerbaijan, Iran
Photo by Uwe Seidner / Shutterstock

Iranians and Armenians have long had numerous cultural exchanges throughout history. Iran became the second home for Armenians when Shah Abbas I of Persia forced some Armenians to leave their land to Iran in 1622 CE. Thus, Armenians settled in several cities, and built their own neighborhood and magnificent churches. Three churches in West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan provinces, date back to the 7th to 14th centuries CE, have kept their utter integrity and authenticity. These churches demonstrate the influence of Armenian architecture and decorative arts and their interaction with other regional cultures such as Byzantine, Orthodox, and Persia.

These works were registered in UNESCO World Heritages list in 2008.

Saint Stepanos Monastery, Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran
Photo by DyziO / Shutterstock

Saint Thaddeus Monastery

Situated in the Chaldoran Mountains, The Monastery of Saint Thaddeus or so called Qara Kilisa in Azerbaijani (meaning the black church because of its white and black stones) is the best maintained medieval church in Iran (West Azerbaijan).

According to Armenians, Thaddeus and 3000 of his Armenian followers became massacred by the king of Armenia. But to commemorate, three centuries later a chapel was made for them, when Armenia became to the first Christian nation in the world. Every year at the beginning of summer, Armenians from Iran and Armenia undertake a three-day pilgrimage in this monastery on the martyrdom day of Saint Thaddeus.

This rectangular monastery was seriously damaged after an earthquake in 1319 CE, but it was reconstructed in 1810 CE chiefly with white stones. Saints, angels, and kings are carved inside the monastery.

Saint Thaddeus Monastery, Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran
Photo by knovakov / Shutterstock

Saint Stepanos Monastery

In the north-west of Jolfa and close to the Iranian side of the Aras Riverin (East Azerbaijan), the Saint Stepanos Monastery is located in green canyon. Its construction dates back to the 9th century but similar to the Saint Thaddeus monastery, the edifice suffered from the earthquake of 1319 CE and was rebuilt in the Safavid era. Its name is derived from the name of Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity.

The Monastery consists of a cross-shaped main hall adorned with beautiful paintings, and a detailed sanctuary. Red stones are used in the construction of the monastery, the architecture resembles Armenian and Georgian monasteries, and its bell tower is built upon a structure with eight decorated columns which stands on a porch connected to the southern wall.

Chapel of Dzordzor

The Chapel of Dzordzor or so called Holy Mary is situated in West Azerbaijan province on a mountain slope near Maku. The chapel looks minimal and made of carved stones, and windows are decorated with ogee arch columns.

Interestingly the chapel was relocated to a place 600 meters away and 110 meters higher than its primary location following a plan to build a dam in the region. In 1987 CE, this dislocation took 25 days; every single stone was transferred to the target location in accords with scientific principles.

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East Azerbaijan’s area is 45,491 square meters, introducing it as the 11th largest province of the country. It has 21 counties such as Marand, Maragheh, and Mianeh as its most populated cities. It contains about five percent of the country’s population with Tabriz as its center city. The people living in this region speak Turkish with Azari Dialect.

The history of East Azerbaijan province dates back to the pre-Islamic period and the time of the Median Empire (678-549 B.C.) during which it was known as Little Medes. During the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 B.C.) and later after the invasion of Alexander, Azerbaijan became independent under the command of Atropatene. After the advent of Islam in 651 A.D. and when Omar became the Caliph, Muslims took control of Azerbaijan and then with the uprising of Babak Khorramdin, the influence of the Abbasid Caliphs was declined in the region.

Following the Mongol invasion and the arrival of Hulagu Khan during the 13th century, Azerbaijan was chosen as the center of the vast Mongol Empire. During the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736), Shah Ismail I chose Tabriz as the capital of Iran and later in the Qajar Dynasty (1796-1925), Tabriz became a center of hosting Qajar princes.

This province has various types of climate due to its large area and high altitude. For example, on one hand, Mianeh and Jolfa have the highest temperature and on the other hand, Bostanabad has the lowest temperature. The cold and semi-arid climate of the province is attributed to its proximity to the Caspian Sea, Lake Urmia, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. The highlands of this region are snowy and suitable for winter sports. Due to its natural and historical attractions, East Azerbaijan has become one of the favorite destinations in the country, attracting foreign and domestic tourists every year.

Some of the historical sites of the province include Tabriz traditional bazaar, the church of St. Stepanos in Jolfa (registered in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list), Tabriz Blue Mosque, the remnants of the Maragheh Observatory, and Kandovan Village.

The province is also rich in handicrafts and souvenirs, one of which includes Tabriz Carpet as a famous carpet of the province and Iran as well. Among its other souvenirs, a variety of nuts as well as various types of pastries such as Nougat, Rees, Baslogh, and Qurabiya are notable. Besides, Kebab and Kufteh are the most famous dishes of the region. Bonab Kebab which is a kebab made in the city of Bonab is such popular that it has turned into a national food, being served in most Iranian restaurants across the country.

In contrast, Kufteh is usually homemade food and one cannot find it in restaurants. When it comes to prominent figures, Sattar Khan and Baqir Khan as two leaders of Iran’s Constitutional Revolution were from East Azerbaijan. The province is also known for its literary and poet figures such as Gholam Hossein Sa’edi, Shahriar, Khaghani, Saeb Tabrizi, Parvin Etesami, Aref Murav, and Shams Tabrizi.

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