While much of the world prepared for evening festivities, the historical Targmanchats Church in Tehran welcomed the dawn of January 1st with a special service.
Targmanchats Church, whose name means “Holy Translators,” honors Mesrop Mashtots, the revered creator of the Armenian alphabet. Nestled on Tehran's Vahideh Street, in the quiet alley of the Armenian School, this church stands as more than just a place of worship. It is a symbol of a community’s resilience and its established place within the fabric of Iranian society.
The original building was constructed in 1968 through a joint effort by the World Council of Churches and the Armenian Prelacy of Tehran. It served as a sanctuary and a new beginning for many Armenian families who were displaced and lost their homes in the 1962 devastating earthquake that happened in Buin Zahra, northern Iran.
Marking a Global Milestone with Local Tradition
The gathering for New Year’s Eve marks the birth of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the Anno Domini era. For the attendees, this dawn service also held significance as the seventh day of Christmas in the Western Christian tradition. The timing of the celebration, at dawn on a working day, highlighted the dedication of the community and the accommodations made for their religious observances.
A Testament to Religious Coexistence
The peaceful observance of this important Christian holiday in the heart of Iran’s capital serves as a soft but powerful testament to the country’s constitutional recognition of religious minorities.
The continued operation and maintenance of churches like Targmanchats allow communities to preserve their language, traditions, and faith across generations.
This event underscores a narrative of coexistence, where ancient Christian traditions continue to be practiced freely, contributing to the rich, multicultural tapestry of Iranian society. Christmas was not just a welcoming of a new year, but a reaffirmation of a community’s enduring faith and its harmonious place within the nation.
seyed mohammad kazemi - seyed mohammad kazemi
