TEHRAN, JUNE 25, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. On July
22-26, an exhibition will be held in Iran's West-Azarbaijan's
Qara Kelisa church, which will present country's Armenian
artists' artistic creations on the theme of 'church.' According
to Iranian media, it will work till July 26.
Organized by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism
office in West-Azerbaijan Province, the exhibition will
commemorate the martyrdom of one of the apostles of Jesus, Saint
Thaddeus, who constructed Qara Kelisa (Black Church) which is in
the south of the town of Maku in 68 CE, when he was returning to
Armenia. The church is one of the oldest Christian churches in
Iran and has a great significance for Armenian Community of
Iran. Every year scores of Armenians, Assyrians and Catholics
from Iran and other countries visit the church to commemorate
the martyrdom of Saint Thaddeus. The church has been registered
on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage List.