ARMENIAN RESIDENCES OF TEHRAN AND ESFAHAN STARTED 2012 IN THEIR CHURCHES.

ChristianNewsToday.com

Jan 9 2012

Armenian residences of Iran moved to Iran in 1605 when Shah Abbas was
ruling over the country. Most of the Armenian immigrants settled in
the cities of Tehran, Esfahan, Azerbaijan-Sharghi and Azerbaijan-Gharbi
and today their seeds continue to live there.

The New Year celebrations is being held every year in greatest and
the most beautiful churches of Iran such as Vank Church located at
Armenian neighborhood in Jolfa in Esfahan. However, Farsi-speaking
Christians are being closely watched by security agents of the
Intelligence office.

So, having such celebrations is almost impossible for them. There
are some regulations and conditions, pre-written by Ministry
of Intelligence which is given to the church authorities. Such
instructions make it difficult for Farsi-Speaking believers to
enter the churches, especially in this period of the year. Other
Farsi-speaking Christians, mostly converted from Islam, who don’t make
it to the churches gather in their house churches and hold their New
Year celebration in silence together with other fellow believers.

Following the continue of pressures on Iranian Christian community
during the Christmas time, AOG church of Ahwaz was attacked by
security authorities on 23 December 2011 and Everyone in attendance
at the church service was comprehended.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress