TEHRAN- Hamidreza Zeinali, a filmmaker, photographer, and university lecturer, is showcasing his latest photos of Doulab Catholic Cemetery in an exhibition underway at Tehran’s Barg Gallery. 

Entitled “Hidden Magnificence”, the series featuring the gravestones of the cemetery has adopted a performative and artistic approach to photography, with the primary aim of drawing attention from both the public and officials to protect and preserve the urban heritage of Tehran and Iran.

This collection was photographed in the winter of 2023 and the spring of 2024, and following coordinated efforts, the exhibition is planned to be held in Isfahan and Vank Cathedral followed by an exhibition in Yerevan, Armenia.

The exhibition will be running until November 8 at the gallery located at No.13 Jamali St., off Vafamanesh Ave., in Heravi Square.

Doulab Cemetery, located in the eastern suburbs of Tehran, is a significant historical site and one of the region's most important Christian cemeteries. It is divided into five distinct sections: Armenian Apostolic, Eastern Orthodox (including Russians, Georgians, and Greeks), Roman Catholic, Armenian Catholic, and Assyrian (encompassing the Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic, and Protestant communities). 

The Roman Catholic Cemetery has its roots in the mid-19th century. In 1855, Louis Andre Ernest Cloquet, a personal physician to Nasser al-Din Shah, was buried in a field that would become the burial ground for Catholics in Tehran. Cloquet's tomb, marked by a small brick cupola, remains a notable feature of the cemetery today. 

The Lazarists, who first arrived in Tehran in 1862, became responsible for the cemetery and tended to the 87 Catholics living in the city at the time. By 1886, Joseph Désiré Tholozan, a French officer, purchased the land, facilitating its use by the growing Catholic community. The cemetery expanded for various communities, notably when the Polish Embassy purchased part of the land in 1942 to bury many Polish soldiers and civilians who died upon their arrival in Iran.

In 2000, Doulab Cemetery was designated as a national cultural heritage site. The complex, now covering about 76,000 square meters, stands as a testament to the diverse nationalities and communities that have contributed to its history. Notable burials include figures from various fields, reflecting the cemetery's rich legacy.

SAB/