Christianity has a long and resilient history in Iran, dating back to the earliest centuries of the faith. Despite centuries of persecution under Islamic rule, various Christian communities have continued to exist, and in recent years, underground evangelical movements have seen explosive growth. While the Armenian Apostolic Church remains the most established and recognized Christian denomination in Iran, the Assyrian Church of the East, Roman Catholic, and Chaldean Catholic Churches persist, and the underground Evangelical and Pentecostal movements are experiencing remarkable expansion despite severe persecution. This article explores the state of these Christian groups in Iran and their enduring faith amidst oppression.
1. The Armenian Apostolic Church: The Oldest and Largest Official Christian Group
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the most established and officially recognized Christian group in Iran, with an estimated 100,000–150,000 members. As an Oriental Orthodox Church, it traces its roots to the apostolic era and has remained a pillar of Armenian identity in Iran. Armenians first settled in Persia as early as the 4th century, and their community expanded significantly after Shah Abbas I of the Safavid Dynasty relocated thousands of Armenians to New Julfa, Isfahan, in the 17th century (Payaslian, 2007).
Despite being recognized as a legal religious minority under the Iranian constitution, Armenians face restrictions, such as limits on evangelism and church construction. Their worship is conducted in Armenian, and they have maintained a distinct identity centered in Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz. While Armenians enjoy relative protection compared to converts from Islam, they are still viewed as second-class citizens under Iran’s Islamic rule.
2. The Assyrian Church of the East: A Remnant of Ancient Christianity
The Assyrian Church of the East represents one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world, tracing its origins to the Apostle Thomas and the first-century Mesopotamian Church (Baum & Winkler, 2003). In Iran, the Assyrian Christian population is estimated at 15,000–25,000 and is concentrated in Tehran, Urmia, and West Azerbaijan Province. Worship is conducted in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ.
Like the Armenians, Assyrians are legally recognized as a religious minority but are under strict government control. They are allowed to practice their faith, but they face heavy restrictions on evangelism, church expansion, and political representation. Historically, Assyrians have suffered great persecution, most notably during the Assyrian Genocide (1914-1923) at the hands of the Ottoman Empire and Kurdish forces (Gaunt, 2017). Today, many Iranian Assyrians continue to emigrate due to discrimination and limited opportunities under the Islamic Republic.
3. Underground Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians: The Fastest-Growing Movement
The most rapidly growing Christian group in Iran is the underground Evangelical and Pentecostal movement, with estimates ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 believers (Elizondo, 2019). Unlike the Armenian and Assyrian churches, which are ethnic churches, the underground Christian movement consists mainly of converts from Islam, making them targets of severe persecution.
Evangelical Christianity is outlawed in Iran, and converts can face imprisonment, exile, or execution under Iran’s apostasy laws (Article 225 of the Iranian Penal Code). House churches operate in secret locations, and Persian-language Bibles, satellite television, and online evangelism have played a significant role in this movement.
Notable Iranian Christian leaders, such as Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and Pastor Saeed Abedini, have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith (CSW, 2022). However, despite persecution, conversions are increasing, with many Muslims encountering Christianity through dreams and visions of Jesus Christ, a phenomenon widely reported among Iranian converts (Parsi, 2015).
4. Roman Catholic and Chaldean Catholic Churches: A Small but Enduring Presence
The Roman Catholic and Chaldean Catholic Churches represent a smaller Christian population in Iran, estimated between 8,000 and 15,000 believers. These groups primarily serve Armenian Catholics, Assyrians, and a small number of Persian converts. The Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in communion with Rome and primarily ministers to Assyrians. While Iran allows Catholic worship, restrictions on evangelism and conversion make it difficult for these churches to expand.
5. The Anglican Church in Iran: Once Influential, Now Nearly Extinct
The Anglican Church in Iran, historically connected to the Church of England, was once a thriving community. In the early 20th century, Persian converts to Anglicanism grew in number, but following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Anglican Church was decimated. Bishop Hassan Dehqani-Tafti, the first Iranian Anglican bishop, survived an assassination attempt and went into exile in England (Dehqani-Tafti, 1981). Today, the Anglican community in Iran has fewer than 1,000 members and is nearly extinct.
Conclusion: The State of Christianity in Iran Today
Despite centuries of persecution, Christianity in Iran has endured. The Armenian Apostolic Church remains the most officially recognized group, maintaining its ethnic and liturgical traditions under government restrictions. The Assyrian Church of the East continues to survive, though its numbers are dwindling due to emigration.
However, the fastest-growing Christian movement in Iran is the underground Evangelical and Pentecostal community, consisting primarily of Persian Muslim converts. This movement, despite facing severe persecution, has seen remarkable expansion, proving that the Gospel is alive and well in Iran.
The Iranian regime continues to oppress and persecute Christians, yet the Word of God cannot be silenced (2 Timothy 2:9). As history has shown, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church, and despite all efforts to suppress the Christian faith in Iran, Jesus Christ continues to transform lives behind closed doors.
Citations
Baum, W., & Winkler, D. W. (2003). The Church of the East: A Concise History. Routledge.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). (2022). Persecution of Iranian Christians. www.csw.org.uk
Dehqani-Tafti, H. (1981). The Unfolding Design of My World: A Pilgrim in Exile. SPCK.
Elizondo, J. (2019). House Churches in Iran: A Growing Movement. Christianity Today.
Gaunt, D. (2017). Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I. Berghahn Books.
Parsi, R. (2015). Dreams and Visions: Jesus Appearing to Muslims. Charisma House.
Payaslian, S. (2007). The History of Armenia. Palgrave Macmillan.
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