Saint Mary Church

Urmia, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, Iran

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St. Mary Church of Urmia, also known locally as Naneh Maryam Church (clīsyāy Nənē Mārīam), is an ancient Assyrian (East Syriac) church located in the city of Urmia in West Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran, and is widely regarded as one of the oldest churches in the world and the oldest in Iran.

According to tradition, the site was originally a Zoroastrian fire temple that was transformed into a church after three Zoroastrian priests from the region, inspired by the “star of Christ,” traveled to Bethlehem and later returned to Urmia to convert their temple into a Christian place of worship built on what some sources describe as the tomb or resting place of these bishops.

The current historic building largely dates to the Sasanian period (3rd–7th centuries), and its interior design blends Sasanian and Arsacid architectural elements, with stone inscriptions, arches, and a layout typical of early Eastern Christian churches in the region.