The Iranian Christian Kingdom of Taparistan

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Former Pagan, Christian Conservative LDS Priest 

In my journey from a Safavid royal lineage to becoming a Christian conservative priest in the LDS Church, I have often reflected on the complex, multi-layered history of my homeland. One such historical gem is the ancient Christian kingdom of Taparistan (or Tabaristan), which flourished in what is today northern Iran. Its existence is a reminder of a time when Christianity had a foothold in regions that are now predominantly Muslim, demonstrating the enduring influence of Christian communities in the Near East.

The region historically known as Taparistan roughly corresponds to the modern Iranian provinces of Mazandaran, Gilan, and parts of Golestan. These provinces lie along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, a lush, forested area bounded by the Alborz mountain range to the south and the Caspian’s waters to the north. In the early medieval period, this region was a bastion of Christian governance and culture, distinguishing itself from the predominantly Zoroastrian and later Islamic territories that surrounded it.

The Christian kingdom of Taparistan emerged in the early centuries AD, likely during the late Parthian or early Sassanian periods, when Christianity was gaining traction across the Roman Empire and beyond. Missionaries—often originating from the Assyrian Church of the East—brought the faith to this region. By the 5th and 6th centuries, Taparistan had established a strong Christian community with organized dioceses and bishops under the larger umbrella of the Nestorian church. This Christian presence persisted into the early Islamic conquests, when the Caliphate sought to integrate this relatively independent region into its growing empire.

Despite the eventual decline of Christian political dominance, the legacy of Taparistan’s Christian era endured. Monasteries, inscriptions, and the writings of early Nestorian scholars provide evidence of a vibrant Christian intellectual and spiritual life. Some sources suggest that Christian communities persisted in parts of Taparistan into the early Middle Ages, even as the Islamic Caliphate’s influence grew stronger. This dual history of faith and resistance has inspired many—including myself—to appreciate the diverse religious heritage of Iran and to understand that Iran’s history is not monolithically tied to any single faith or empire.

For me, the story of Taparistan stands as a testament to the resilience of the Christian spirit. As an Iranian-American who has embraced Christianity, I find strength in knowing that my ancestors once thrived under the banner of the cross, even in a region that later became synonymous with Islamic rule. It is a poignant reminder that faith can flourish in even the most unexpected places, and that our spiritual heritage is often richer and more varied than we might initially believe.

Citations

• Boyce, Mary. Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge, 2001.
• Payne, Richard E. A State of Mixture: Christians, Zoroastrians, and Iranian Political Culture in Late Antiquity. University of California Press, 2015.
• Wood, Philip. The Chronicle of Seert: Christian Historical Imagination in Late Antique Iraq. Oxford University Press, 2013.