National Museum of Iran hanging photos of historical churches

TEHRAN,Dec.27(MNA) -- The National Museum of Iran (NMI) is hanging a series of photos depicting historical Iranian churches in an exhibition that opened on Monday. With the Christians’ New Year approaching, the museum is holding the photo exhibit to showcase part of the cultural heritage of the Iranian Christian nation, museum curator Dariush Akbarzadeh told on Monday. Photos of several Iranian churches, which have been registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, are also on display at the show. The Iranian churches St. Thaddeus, St. Stephanus, and Dzordzor (Zorzor) in East Azerbaijan Province and West Azerbaijan Province, registered on the UNESCO list in 2008, are among the pictures to be seen at the event. “The heritage of Iranian Christians is considered to be part of Iran’s cultural heritage and the churches are respected for their religious value and historical art and architecture,” he added. Architect Sherly Avedian, the director of the Study Center for Iranian Historical Churches also gave details about several other churches in Isfahan, which are waiting to be added to the UNESCO list. Avedian also said that the center is ready and willing to submit the documents prepared on the churches to UNESCO. Pictures of churches located in the provinces of Isfahan, Ardebil, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan and several other provinces will be on display until Thursday at the museum located on Si-e Tir St., north of Imam Khomeini Ave.