St. Mary's Church

🕰️When was it built?

The present building dates from 1662, in the Safavid era. Before it, in 1550, a small church stood on the same spot, surrounded by the houses of the Armenians living in Shiraz. The church was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 7 October 1967 as number 759.

🏛️What was it built for?

It was built for the worship of the Armenian community of Shiraz and belongs to the Armenian Apostolic Church.

👀What you will see

• The large entrance gate carries a cross, and the square outer facade shows no other clear sign of a church.
• The wooden ceiling of the hall is covered with oil paintings and is part of the interior decoration.
• Stucco work inside sits beside the painted ceiling and is among the church's main decorations.
• Although the outside is square, the hall feels domed from inside and looks different from the exterior.
• Descriptions of the entrance mention tall candlesticks on both sides, with colourful cacti beside them.

💡Something interesting

For many years the area around the church was where Portuguese merchants did their business, and this trade went on in the streets around it.

🎒Good to know before you go

• If you go into the hall, look up at the painted wooden ceiling; this decoration cannot be seen from outside.