Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Urmia

🕰️When was it built?

The church is attributed to the 8th century CE and to Mar Bokhtishu the physician, one of the doctors of Harun al-Rashid. It was added to Iran's National Heritage List in February 2002. Its age makes it part of the long history of Assyrian life around Urmia.

🏛️What was it built for?

The church was a place for Christians to gather and worship, and its name comes from Peter and Paul. In a space like this, the main hall was used for the congregation and the liturgy. To appreciate the building, look at the space of worship and at how the roof and walls are built.

👀What you will see

• The entrance opens to the south, and stucco muqarnas set the top of it apart from the plain wall around it.
• The stone roof is a barrel vault; follow its long curve along the inside of the building.
• The inside and outside of the building have a thick coat of plaster, with rubble and river stones beneath it.

💡Something interesting

Beside this church there were once a hospital and a library. That fits the story of its being built by a physician and shows that the site's story was about more than worship, though you shouldn't expect all those spaces to have survived.

🎒Good to know before you go

• To see inside, ask the person in charge whether you can enter, and keep quiet in the religious space.
• Look at the stucco of the entrance and the shape of the roof; the plaster is not for touching or leaning on.