Armenian Church of Shiraz

The Armenian Church of Shiraz is identified by its seventeenth-century brick facade and the weathered, arched doorway set deep into the wall along a quiet lane. Built during the Safavid era, this sanctuary served the small community of merchants and craftsmen who relocated from Jolfa to Shiraz under the patronage of Shah Abbas. In the late nineteen seventies, the structure narrowly escaped demolition during urban development, saved only by the persistent efforts of the local congregation who barricaded the main gate.