TEHRAN -- An exhibition of calligraphy by Iranian masters opened in Khoy on the side section program of the International Congress of Shams-i Tabrizi.

Works by masters Gholamhossein Amirkhani, Javad Bakhtiari, Abasalt Sadeqi and several more are on display at the weeklong exhibit entitled “Image of Shams”. The artworks bear selections from poetry by Hafez, Sadi and Rumi.
Urmia, the capital of West Azerbaijan Province hosted the opening ceremony of the congress on Monday and the city of Khoy where the tomb of Shams-i Tabrizi lies will be hosting the closing day on Wednesday.
Several major and side-section programs were arranged at the congress some of which are as followings.
--------Stamp in honor of Shams unveiled
The opening day welcomed several events including unveiling a stamp in honor of Shams.
The carpet tableau of the cultural connection of Hafez and Shams was also unveiled at the ceremony.
Vocalist Shahram Nazeri gave a concert at the Shams Hall on Monday evening.
---------Shams medal presented to son of Riahi
The special medal of Shams awarded to Shams expert Mohammad-Amin Riahi two years ago was presented to his son this year during a ceremony at a congress on Shams-i Tabrizi in Khoy since the elder Riahi has passed away.
Iranian scholars and experts on Shams and Rumi along with ambassadors of 15 countries are attending the three-day congress in Iran.
Born in the city of Tabriz, Shams lived together with Rumi in Konya for several years, and has been immortalized in Rumi’s collection of poetry named the “Divan of Shams ad-Din of Tabriz”.
-------- Silk carpet with images of tombs of Shams and Hafez being weaved
Two carpet weavers from Khoy began weaving a silk carpet bearing the image of the tombs of Shams in Khoy and Hafez in Shiraz concurrent with the opening day of the congress.
The 2 x 15 m tableau is due to be completed within a year.
The tomb of Shams is located in Khoy and is in the form of a 12-meter high cylindrical tower. The monument was erected by Shah-Esmaeil in the Safavid era.
-----------Scholars to study works attributed to Shams
Secretary of the congress Tofiq Sobhani announced that experts would begin studying writings attributed to Shams in its program next year.
Experts on Shams will begin reviewing works by Shams and about Shams to clarify his life and character.
Scholars have conducted a great deal of research on Rumi and it is high time to do the same for Shams, he said.