UNESCO to Add Iranian Church to World Heritage List

September 28, 2003 - 0:0
TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) -- Studies on St Thaddeus Church in West Azerbaijan Province have been accomplished by the Cultural Heritage Organization (CHO) to pave the way for adding it to the UNESCO's World Heritage List next year, the Education and Introduction Assistant of CHO Ahmad Mohit Tabatabei said on Saturday.

After Takht-e Soleiman, this will be the second monument from West Azerbaijan Province to be added to the list.

Takht-e Solieman was registered on the list in July.

Choghazanbil Ziggurat, Persepolis, Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Square had been added to the list before the Islamic Revolution.

Located in northeastern Chaldiran, the church is the grave of Saint Thaddeus, one of the twelve apostles.

Christians hold some of their religious ceremonies at this church also named Qara Kelissa, every year in August.

According to Mohit Tabatabaei CHO has also collected some information to document the historical sites Pasargadae, Soltanieh Dome, and Arg-e Bam for registration in UNESCO's World Heritage List.