ARMENIANS IN IRAN: AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF SURVIVAL
How do 150,000 Christians live in one of the most theocratic countries in the world?
How have they preserved their faith, language, and culture after four centuries?
Why are Armenian wineries legally operating in the Islamic Republic?
In this documentary, we delve into the hidden world of Armenians in Iran—
from the majestic churches of Isfahan to modern Tehran,
from ancient traditions to the challenges of the 21st century.
📍 WHAT’S INSIDE:
00:00 – Intro: Who are the Armenians of Iran?
1:30 AM – History: How Shah Abbas Relocated the Armenians in 1604
5:30 AM – Armenian Cities: Vank Cathedral, New Julfa, Tehran
10:30 AM – Religion: Christian Churches in the Islamic Republic
1:30 PM – Food and Wine: Forbidden Foods Legal for Armenians
4:30 PM – Relations with the Persians: 400 Years of Coexistence
8:00 PM – Politics: How Armenians Gained a Seat in the Iranian Parliament
11:00 PM – Youth and the Future: Emigration or Preservation?
26:30 – Conclusion: Survival Lessons for Small Nations
🔑 KEY FACTS:
• 150,000 Armenians live in Iran today (up from 300,000 in 1979)
• The only Christian minority with constitutional protection
• Vank Cathedral in Isfahan – a masterpiece of Armenian-Persian architecture
• Armenian wineries operate legally in a “dry” country
• 1 guaranteed seat in the Iranian parliament
• Armenian schools, churches, and media operate freely
⚡ WHY THIS IMPORTANT:
While Christians are disappearing throughout the Middle East (90% have left Iraq, 50% Syria), the Armenians of Iran are surviving. Their story is a lesson in how to
preserve identity in the most difficult circumstances.
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