IFP Exclusive

Is Saint Thaddeus Monastery Oldest Christian Church in World?

The Monastery of Saint Thaddeus in north-western Iran is considered by some experts to be the oldest church of the Christian world.

Saint Thaddeus Monastery is called “Qara-kelisa” – the black church – by the Azeri-speaking local people; as some parts of its building are black.

Qara-kelisa is located 20 km north-east of Chaldoran, near a village of the same name in the south of Maku, West Azarbaijan province.

Built on the tomb of Saint Thaddeus, its construction dates back to the apostle’s martyrdom according to existing documents.

Apparently, the original building had been made entirely of black stone. After its reconstruction, part of the black stones have been replaced by white ones.

What follows are YJC’s photos of Saint Thaddeus Monastery in north-western Iran:

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.

Recent Posts

Brown bear spotted in Iran’s Arasbaran protected area

A brown bear has been caught on camera in the Arasbaran protected area, also known…

2 hours ago

Iran extends gas export contract with Iraq

Iran has renewed a contract with Iraq to export gas to its western neighbor for…

2 hours ago

Expert: No bright future for Iran regarding sanctions

A political analyst says a number of internal and international factors paint a complicated picture…

5 hours ago

9 killed in single road accident in Iran’s Semnan

A traffic incident involving three vehicles in the central Iranian province of Semnan left 9…

6 hours ago

Iran tourism: Historical Asef Mansion in Kordestan hosts Nowruz tourists

Nowruz, or Persian New Year, holidays is a great opportunity for travelers across Iran to…

7 hours ago

Iranian sprinter Tousi finishes runner-up in South Africa

Iran’s sprint athlete Maryam Tousi has gained a silver medal in the women’s 200m at…

7 hours ago