A Study of the Typologies of Armenian Churches in Iran
Abstract
Armenian churches in Iran are vital expressions of Armenian cultural heritage, reflecting a presence dating back to the fourth century. Over 400 churches
survive, embodying resilience and a synthesis of Byzantine, Persian, Assyrian, and Islamic influences. They range from monumental urban churches with central towers
and classical plans to modest rural structures. Originating in northwestern Iran, their architecture evolved significantly during the Safavid era, especially in Isfahan. Later periods allowed greater expression, and a few churches were even built after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, underscoring continuity and identity.
open access
Submitted: Sept. 9, 2025 | Published July 16, 2026 | Language: en
Keywords Iran • Armenian churches • Modern Armenian churches • Elements of Armenian church design • Urban and rural churches • Safavid churches
Copyright © 2026 Marco Brambilla. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/979-12-5742-061-1/003