make preferableIn the summer of 2025, the new St. Mary Metro Station was put into operation in the central part of Tehran. As a sign of respect toward Christians, the Iranian government has decided to name the station Maryam-e Moghaddas (Holy Mary), which is how the Virgin Mary is referred to in Iran.
The inscription “In the name of God,” which traditionally appears above the entrances of all Tehran metro stations, is different at this station: it is written also in Armenian, English, Arabic, and Aramaic.
On one of the platforms, a passage from the Gospel of Luke about the Annunciation to Mary is displayed, also written in Armenian.
This Armenian-themed section also features the book “Christ on the Night of Qadr,” which presents details of meetings between Iran’s Supreme Leader and the families of Iranian-Armenian martyrs during the Iran–Iraq War and the period that followed.
The new station is located near one of the main spiritual centers of the Armenian community of Iran’s capital—the Cathedral of St. Sarkis.
There are nine functioning Armenian churches in Tehran, the principal one being the Cathedral of St. Sarkis. Consecrated more than 50 years ago, it has remained a unifying center for the community to this day.
Years ago, an exceptional event took place at the Mother Church: a female deacon was ordained, who continues to serve in the clergy to this day.
Tehran is also home to an Armenian Catholic diocese, whose center is the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, founded in 1954.
In addition to the Diocese of Tehran, there are two other Armenian Apostolic dioceses in Iran—Atrpatakan and Isfahan. All of them were once under the jurisdiction of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, but since 1958 they have been under the jurisdiction of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.
