While one ancient Armenian church is restored in Iran, others in former parts of Armenia will have to survive under their new mostly Muslim country of Azerbaijan, which borders Iran to the north, as a result of a recent ceasefire agreement.
The fifth-century St. John Church has undergone some rehabilitation works in the village of Sohrol, Iran, near Shabestar city in East Azarbaijan province, Tehran Times reported.
Also known as Sohraqeh Church, St. John Church, which is of the Armenian Catholic Rite, was rebuilt on the older church foundation in 1840 by Samson Makintsev, a Russian general in the service of Iran during the Qajar era.
The restoration involves the reinforcement of the main structure, filling small cracks, and erecting retaining walls for stabilizing soil from a potential landslide, according to Tehran Times.
Cover photo: An Armenian person dressed in fatigues lights candles for war dead in a church in Yerevan on October 17, 2020. (Photo by KAREN MINASYAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.