A Visit to the Armenian St. Thaddeus Monastery in Iran

The Monastery of Saint Thaddeus is written in Armenian like this: Սուրբ Թադէոսի վանք; it is also known as the Black Church, Kara Kilise (قره‌ کلیسا). According to old yore it has been built in 68 AD, but later destroyed by an earthquake. But some parts of the monastery around the alter arte dated to the 10^th century. St. Thaddeus (the second Jude of the disciples of Jesus Christ), one of the apostles, had suffered martyrdom there. Most of the structure that can be visited date to the early 19^th century. The Monastery of Saint Thaddeus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2008.

There are lots of white stone now, but the original stone had been black.

There is an annual ceremony and pilgrimage to the St. Thaddeus Monastery, when the surroundings are closed to Muslims in order that Christian women may drop the head scarves and that dancing and singing is possible. But I don’t know if this is a regular custom taking place every year or not.

The location is hidden in the mountains, but easily accessible from Tabriz. The roads are good, but it is a day’s trip.

 

I've been lucky to see Mt. Ararat 

 

The Church from outside

Mural works outside

 

The reason to be called the black church 

 

 More art on the outside

 

The altar room 

 The side of the altar room with an inscription 

and lots of crosses, maybe for martyrs

Details of the Armenian inscriptions

A look to the cupola 

 

Much like a picture of
Maurits Cornelis Escher

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thaddeus_Monastery

http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Qara_Kelissa_St_Thaddeus_Church.htm

http://thecompletepilgrim.com/monastery-st-thaddeus/

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