New Julfa (, ''Now Jolfā'', or , ''Jolfâ-ye Now''; , ''Nor Jugha'') is the

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

quarter of

Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

, located along the south bank of the

Zayanderud The Zayanderud or Zayandehrud (; from "fertile" or "life-giver", and "river"), also spelled as ''Zayanderud'' or ''Zayanderood, ...'', is the largest river of the Iranian Plateau in central Iran. Geography The Zayandeh starts in the Zard ...

. Established and named after the older city of Julfa in the early 17th century (now divided as

Jolfa, Iran Jolfa () is a city in the Central District of Jolfa County, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Jolfa is separated by the Aras River The Aras is a transboundary river in the Caucasus. I ...

and Julfa, Azerbaijan), it is still one of the oldest and largest Armenian quarters in the world ( hy).

History

New Julfa was established in 1606 as an Armenian quarter by the mandate of

Abbas the Great Abbas I (; 27 January 1571 – 19 January 1629), commonly known as Abbas the Great (), was the fifth Safavid Iran, Safavid shah of Iran from 1588 to 1629. The third son of Mohammad Khodabanda, Shah Mohammad Khodabanda, he is generally considered ...

, sultan of

Safavid Iran The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...

. Over 150,000

Armenians Armenians (, ) are an ethnic group indigenous to the Armenian highlands of West Asia.Robert Hewsen, Hewsen, Robert H. "The Geography of Armenia" in ''The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiq ...

were forcibly moved there from Julfa (also known as ''Jugha'' or ''Juła'', and now as Old Julfa) ( hy). Iranian sources state that the Armenians came to Iran fleeing the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

's persecution. Nevertheless, historical records indicate that the residents of Julfa were treated well by Shah Abbas in the hopes that their resettlement in Isfahan would benefit Iran due to their knowledge of the silk trade.Sushil Chaudhuri and Kéram Kévonian eds., Les Arméniens dans le commerce asiatique au début de l’ere moderne rmenians in Asian trade in the Early Modern Era (Paris, 2007). Beginning in the early 1600s, New Julfa became home to a very small community of merchants and artisans as well as to a small group of Catholic missionary priests who served the Christian community. Among the residents of New Julfa was the

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

clockmaker, Jacques Rousseau (1683-1753), who was the uncle of the philosopher

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Republic of Geneva, Genevan philosopher (''philosophes, philosophe''), writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment through ...

(1712-1778). The New Julfa dialect is a distinct form of

Eastern Armenian Eastern Armenian () is one of the two standardized forms of Modern Armenian, the other being Western Armenian. The two standards form a pluricentric language. Eastern Armenian is spoken in Armenia, Russia, as well as Georgia, and by the Armeni ...

spoken largely in

and

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

. "This variety or

lect In sociolinguistics, a variety, also known as a lect or an isolect, is a specific form of a language or language cluster. This may include languages, dialects, registers, styles, or other forms of language, as well as a standard variety.Meecha ...

is called “Persian Armenian” or “Iranian Armenian” by members of the community." New Julfa is still an Armenian-populated area with an Armenian school and sixteen churches, including

Vank Cathedral The Holy Savior Cathedral (, ''Surb Amenaprkich Vank''; , ''Kelisâye Âmenâperkich''), also known the Church of the Saintly Sisters, is an Armenian Apostolic cathedral located in the New Julfa district of Isfahan, Iran. It is commonly referred ...

. Armenians in New Julfa observe Iranian law concerning clothing, but retain a distinct Armenian language, identity, cuisine, and culture, which the Iranian government protects.

Origins and Trade

Since its foundation, New Julfa was administered by the Armenian noble house of Lazaryan, which relocated to

Imperial Russia Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor/empress, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * ...

after

Nader Shah Nader Shah Afshar (; 6 August 1698 or 22 October 1688 – 20 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history, ruling as shah of Iran (Persia) from 1736 to 1747, when he was a ...

's death in 1747. One of its members,

Ivan Lazarevich Lazarev Hovhannes Lazarian (), better known under his Russian name as Ivan Lazarevich Lazarev (, 4 December 1735 – 5 November 1801), was a Armenians in Russia, Russian-Armenian financier and millionaire. A court banker to Catherine the Great, he was the ...

, became a court banker to

Catherine the Great Catherine II. (born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst; 2 May 172917 November 1796), most commonly known as Catherine the Great, was the reigning empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796. She came to power after overthrowing her husband, Peter I ...

and was made an

Imperial Count Imperial Count (, ) was a title in the Holy Roman Empire. During the medieval era, it was used exclusively to designate the holder of an imperial county, that is, a fief held directly ( immediately) from the emperor, rather than from a prince wh ...

in 1788. His brother established the

Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages The Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages, () established in 1815, was a school specializing in orientalism, with a particular focus on that of Armenia, and was the principal cultural center of the Armenian diaspora in Moscow, Russia. Many Russi ...

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. In 1947, the historian

Fernand Braudel Fernand Paul Achille Braudel (; 24 August 1902 – 27 November 1985) was a French historian. His scholarship focused on three main projects: ''The Mediterranean'' (1923–49, then 1949–66), ''Civilization and Capitalism'' (1955–79), and the un ...

wrote that the Armenians had a trade network that stretched from

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

in the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. Many scholars in Armenia have done pioneering work on this network in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Levon Khachikyan and Sushanik Khachikyan have edited and published several New Julfan account books. Over the next few centuries, New Julfa became the hub of "one of the greatest trade networks of the early modern era," and as far west as

Cádiz Cádiz ( , , ) is a city in Spain and the capital of the Province of Cádiz in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. It is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula off the Atlantic Ocean separated fr ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, and

, with a few merchants traveling across the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the cont ...

Acapulco Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , ; ), is a city and Port of Acapulco, major seaport in the Political divisions of Mexico, state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Located on a deep, semicirc ...

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

A significant majority of Armenian trading families were based in New Julfa. Due to their dispersal, many families that were originally from the older city of Julfa created a main settlement in

Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...

expanding the trade network based in New Julfa. However, Some scholars argue that

Surat Surat (Gujarati Language, Gujarati: ) is a city in the western Indian States and territories of India, state of Gujarat. The word Surat directly translates to ''face'' in Urdu, Gujarati language, Gujarati and Hindi. Located on the banks of t ...

, Bengal, and Hooghly were independent nodes and that the central control of New Julfa was not as important to their thriving

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

trade.Bhattacharya, Bhaswatti “Making Money at the Blessed Place of Manilla: Armenians in the Madras- Manila Trade in the Eighteenth Century.” Journal of Global History, (2008),3, 1-20. Many New Julfan Armenians later settled in Manila,

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

, and also in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. Their networks have been studied based on Armenian sources. Some also settled in

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

, where Armenians from New Julfa became the mainstay of the Armenian community in the country. Most were traders, but perhaps better known were the

Sarkies Brothers The Sarkies Brothers, Martin (1852–1912), Tigran (1861–1912), Aviet (1862–1923), and Arshak (1868–1931), were a group of brothers of Armenians, Armenian ethnicity best known for founding a chain of luxury hotels throughout Southeast Asia. ...

, who founded Singapore's

Raffles Hotel Raffles Singapore is a historic luxury hotel at 1 Beach Road, in Singapore. It was established by Armenian hoteliers, the Sarkies Brothers, in 1887. The hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of mod ...

in 1887. According to David Petrosyan of the

Central Asia-Caucasus Institute The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute or CACI was founded in 1996 by S. Frederick Starr, a research professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. He has served as vice president of Tulane University and as presid ...

, New Julfa had 10,000–12,000 Armenian inhabitants in 1998. As of today, it is still one of the world's largest ethnic Armenian quarters.

Sites

Churches

Armenian Apostolic The Armenian Apostolic Church () is the autocephalous national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christian churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church, like the Armenian Catholic Church, belongs to the Arme ...

* Holy Savior Cathedral (''Surp Amenaprgich'', commonly known as ''the Vank'') – 1655 * Saint Jacob Church (''Surp Hakop Mdzbena Hayrapet'') – 1607 * Saint George Church (''Surp Gevork'') – 1611 * Holy Mother of God Church (''Surp Asdvadzadzin'') – 1613 * Saint Stephen Church (''Surp Stepanos Nakhavga'') – 1614 * Saint John the Baptist Church (''Surp Hovannes Mgrditch'') – 1621 * Saint Catherine Convent (''Surp Katarine'') – 1623 * Holy Bethlehem Church (''Surp Betłehem'') – 1628 * Saint Nicholas Church (''Surp Nikołayos Hayrapet'') – 1630 * Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church (''Surp Grigor Lusavoritch'') – 1633 * Saint Sarkis Church (''Surp Sarkis'') – 1659 * Saint Minas Church (''Surp Minas'') – 1659 * Saint Nerses Church (''Surp Nerses Medz'') – 1666

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

* Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary (

Dominicans Dominicans () also known as Quisqueyans () are an ethnic group, ethno-nationality, national people, a people of shared ancestry and culture, who have ancestral roots in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican ethnic group was born out of a fusio ...

) – 1681/1705

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

* Saint Paul Church – 1875 *

Seventh-day Adventist The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sabbat ...

– 1957 *

Assemblies of God The World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF), commonly known as the Assemblies of God (AG), is a global cooperative body or communion of over 170 Pentecostal denominations that was established on August 15, 1989. The WAGF was created to provi ...

– 1965

Museums

* The museum of Khachatur Kesaratsi, in the compound of the Holy Savior Cathedral

Schools

* Samian (1831–1853) ( hy) * Katarinyan (1858–now) ( hy) * Azgayin Kntronakan (1880–now) ( hy) * Gevorg Kananyan (1905–now) ( hy)

Notable people

* Apcar family – merchant family *

Sceriman family The Sceriman family, also referred to as the Shahremanian, Shahremanean, Shahrimanian, Shehrimanian, Shariman, or Seriman family, were a wealthy Safavid Iran, Safavid Armenian merchantry, merchant family of Armenians, Armenian ethnicity. A Cathol ...

– merchant family * De l'Estoile family – merchant family * Lazarian family ( ru) – noble family *

– businessmen *

Khwaja Safar Khvajeh Safar was an Armenian merchant and Safavid official, who served as the first mayor (''kalāntar'') of New Julfa (the Armenian quarter of Isfahan), from 1605 until his death in 1618. He was of Armenian origin. A member of the influential Sh ...

(d. 1618) – mayor of Julfa * Martin the Armenian ( hy) (d. 1619) – first

Armenian-American Armenian Americans () are citizens or residents of the United States who have total or partial Armenian ancestry. They form the second largest community of the Armenian diaspora after Armenians in Russia. The first major wave of Armenian immig ...

Iranian-American Iranian-Americans, also known as Persian-Americans, are United States citizens or nationals who are of Iranian ancestry, or who hold Iranian citizenship. Most Iranian-Americans arrived in the United States after 1979, as a result of the Irani ...

* Azaria Jughayetsi ( hy) (16th century) – notary * Petik and Sanos ( ru) (16th century) – merchants * Mesrop of Khizan () – manuscript illuminator * Stepanos Dzik Jughayetsi ( hy) (1583–1647) – writer *

Khachatur Kesaratsi Khachatur Kesaratsi (; 1590–1646) was an Armenian archbishop in Safavid Iran. He is credited with the founding of the first printing press in Iran, in 1633, or 1636. In 1638, the first book was printed; a ''Saghmosaran'' (Psalter A psalter ...

(1590–1646) – archbishop and publisher ( hy) * Khvajeh Petros Velijanian ( fa) (d. 1649) – merchant * Simeon Jughayetsi ( ru) (d. 1657) – scholar * Hakob IV of Julfa ( hy) (1598–1680) –

Catholicos A catholicos (plural: catholicoi) is the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and, in some cases, it is the title of the head of an autonomous church. The word comes from ancient Greek ( ...

(1655–80) * Mirman Mirimanidze (17th century) – mayor of New Julfa *

Otar Beg Otar Beg, also known as Otar Khan, later known as Zu al-Faqār Khan (born circa. 1583, – died 1662/63), was a Safavid military commander, royal ''gholam'', and official from the Georgian Baratashvili- Orbelishvili (Orbeliani) clan. Biography ...

(1583–1663) – mayor of New Julfa * Hakop Jughayetsi ( ru) (17th century) – manuscript illuminator * Siet Khachikian ( hy) (17th century) – diplomat * Grigor Usta ( hy) (17th century) – architect * Hovhannes Jughayetsi Ktreshents ( hy) (17th century) – printer * Kostand Jughayetsi ( hy) (17th century) – scholar * Marcara Avanchintz (17th century) – merchant * Minas ( hy) (17th century) – painter * Hovhannes Jughayetsi Ktreshents ( hy) (c.1610–c.1660) – publisher * Minas Jughayetsi ( hy) (1610–1670) – painter *

Mohammad Beg Mohammad Beg (; died 1672), was a Muslim of Armenians, Armenian origin, who served as the List of Safavid Grand Viziers, Grand Vizier of the Safavid king (''shah'') Abbas II of Persia, Abbas II (r. 1642–1666) from 1654 to 1661. Origins Mohamma ...

(d. 1671) – mayor of New Julfa *

Voskan Yerevantsi Voskan Yerevantsi (also spelled Oscan; ; 1614–1674) was one of the first Armenian book publishers during the years 1640–1666. He published the first Armenian Bible in Amsterdam in 1668, which is believed to be one of the best samples of old A ...

(1614–1674) – publisher * Hajji Piri (d. 1694) – mayor of New Julfa *

Bogdan Saltanov Bogdan Saltanov (; 1630s – 1703Kazaryan, 1969, asserted that in 1703 Saltanov did not die, but left Russia and returned to Persia as Russian envoy. This assumption was refuted by subsequently found archive evidence (Komashko, p.47).), also know ...

(1630–1703) – painter * Hovhannes Mrkouz (1643–1715) – philosopher * Egaz Norjughayetsi ( hy) (1650–1734) –

musician A musician is someone who Composer, composes, Conducting, conducts, or Performing arts#Performers, performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general Terminology, term used to designate a person who fol ...

* Ghul Arzuni ( hy) (1650–1750) – musician * Arzuni Jughayetsi ( hy) (1650–1750) – musician * Arapiet di Martin ( hy) (1650–1760) – musician * Stepanos Dashtetsi ( ru) (1653–1720) – writer *

Abgar Ali Akbar Armani Abgar was an Armenian in Safavid Iran who flourished during the reigns of Shah (King) Suleiman I (1666–1694) and Shah Soltan Hoseyn (1694–1722). Originally a merchant, he later converted from Christianity to Shia Islam and took the name Abga ...

(d. 1708) – merchant *

Alexander I of Julfa Catholicos Alexander I of New Julfa, Persia (in Armenian Ալեքսանդր Ա Ջուղայեցի) ( d. 22 November 1714) was the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1706 and 1714. Alexander was from New Julfa of the Armenian comm ...

(d. 1714) – Catholicos (1706–14) * Petros di Sargis Gilanents ( ru) (d. 1724) – merchant * Hagopdjan de Deritchan (d. 1726) – diplomat *

Coja Petrus Uscan Coja Petrus Uscan (also Woskan, Voskan, 1680/81 – 1751) was an Armenian merchantry, Armenian merchant and leader of the Armenians, Armenian community of Chennai, Madras (a city now part of India) who was known for his immense wealth and unflin ...

(1680–1751) – merchant * Aghazar di Khachik ( hy) (1690–1750) – military man * Grigor Harutiunian ( hy) (d. 1763) – political leader * Aghazar Lazarian ( hy) (1700–1782) – merchant * Zaccaria Seriman ( it) (1709–1784) – writer * Tovmas Khojamalian ( hy) (c.1720–1780) – historian *

Shahamir Shahamirian Shahamir Shahamirian (; 1723–1797) was an 18th-century Armenian writer, philosopher, and wealthy merchant in Madras (modern-day Chennai, India). Born in New Julfa, Iran, he moved to India where he became an affluent merchant and an active member ...

(1723–1798) – political activist * Stefano Domenico Sceriman ( it) (1729–1806) – writer *

(1735–1801) – jeweller * Petros Kalantarian ( hy) (1735–1???) – physician * Minas Lazarian ( hy) (1737–1809) – politician * Astvadsatour Babikian ( hy) (1738–1825) – writer * Khachatour Lazarian ( hy) (1741–1774) – politician * Hovakim Lazarian ( hy) (1743–1826) – political activist * Nikoghayos Aghababaian ( hy) (1750–1809) – merchant * Khachatur Jughayetsi ( hy) (18th century) – historian *

Movses Baghramian Movses Baghramian () was an 18th-century Armenian writer and activist. He was a collaborator of the Indo-Armenian activists Joseph Emin and Shahamir Shahamirian and played an important role in running the printing press founded by Shahamirian in Mad ...

(18th century) – political activist * Tadevos Soginian ( hy) (18th century) – political activist * Ivan Karapet ( hy) (18th century) – political activist *

George Manook George Manook (; or Gevork Manuch Merchell/Manukian Manuchariants, ) was an Armenian merchant in Java. He was among the richest figures in the Dutch East Indies, and on several occasions lent large sums of money to the Dutch government. He left ...

(1763–1827) – merchant *

Hakob Hovnatanyan Hakob Hovnatanyan (; 1806–1881) was an Armenians, Armenian artist. He was a member of the Hovnatanyan family, a miniaturists dynasty from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Hacob Hovantanyan who was also called “The Raphael of Tiflis”, was th ...

(1806–1871) – painter * Tadevos Avetoumian ( hy) (1811–1863) – writer * Zerouni Masehian ( fa) (1811–18??) – goldsmith * Megrtich Emin ( ru) (1815–1890) – scholar * Minus Megerdich Zorab (1833–1896) – painter * Tiruhi Ter-Nahapetian ( hy) (19th century) – artist * Mirza Malkam Khan (1834–1908) – politician *

Martiros Khan Davidkhanian Martiros Khan Davidkhanian (1843-1905) was an Iranian General officer, general, Philanthropy, philanthropist, professor, the Chief of staff, Chief of Staff of the Persian Cossack Brigade, Amir Touman and the Commander of the Royal Guard of the Qa ...

(1843–1905) – general * Sarkis Khan Davidkhanian (1846-?) – general * Eskandar Khan Davidkhanian – professor and general * Markar Khan Davidkhanian (19th century) – minister of finance * Tiruhi Ter-Nahapetian ( hy) (19th century) – artist * Vittoria Aganoor (1855–1910) – poet * Minas Manook Basil (Barseghian) ( hy) (1857–1922) – physician *

Diana Abgar Diana Abgar (or Apcar; , 17 October 1859 – 8 July 1937) was a Armenian diaspora, diaspora Armenian writer and humanitarian, who was appointed Honorary Consul to Japan of the short-lived First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920). She was the first ...

(1859–1937) – diplomat * Matevos Aghakhan Karakhanian ( fa) (1860–1946) – photographer *

Arathoon Stephen Arathoon Stephen (; 1861 – 14 May 1927) was an Armenian hotelier and real estate developer based in British India. Amongst other properties, he owned and developed the Kolkata institutions: the Empire Theatre and the Grand Hotel. Born in 1861, ...

(1861–1927) – businessman * Hovsep Mirzayan ( hy) (1868–1935) – politician *

Mesrovb Jacob Seth Mesrovb Jacob Seth ( or ; 15 March 187131 October 1939) was an Armenian author, historian and educator in Calcutta. He was examiner of Modern and Classical Armenian at the University of Calcutta. He is best known for his writings on the history o ...

(1871–1939) – scholar * Hovhannes Abkarian ( fa) (1875–1931) – musician *

Freydoun Malkom Freydoun Malcolm Khan (; 25 December 1875 – 4 June 1954), variously spelled Firidun Malkom Khan and Freydoun Malkom Khan was an Iranian fencer and diplomat. Born in London to diplomat Mirza Malkam Khan, he would attend Eton College and t ...

(1875–1954) – the first Iranian participated in the Olympic Games in 1900 * Tigran Abgarian ( hy) (1877–1950) – philologist * Petros Abkar ( fa) (1884–19??) – politician * Megrdich Abgar ( hy) (1884–1967) – archbishop * Mkrtich Hakobian ( hy) (1885–1971) – photographer * Minas Patkerhanian ( hy) (1885–1972) – photographer * Markar Galstiants ( fa) (1888–1985) – architect * Yeghia Velijanian ( hy) (1889–1976) – artist * Guregh Israelian (1894–1949) – Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem (1944–49) * Zabel Stepanian-Bartev ( fa) (1894–1982) – telegraph technician * Karo Minassian ( hy) (1897–1973) – physician *

Meguertitch Khan Davidkhanian Meguertitch Khan Davidkhanian (1902-1983) was an Iranian military officer and politician. An ethnic Armenians, Armenian and member of the Davidkhanian family in Iran, he was a prominent military figure in Pahlavi Iran, Pahlavi-era Iran, serving a ...

(1902–1983) – general and politician * Haykush Ter-Martirosian ( hy) (1905–1987) – actress * Bersabe Hovsepian ( hy) (1906–1999) – public figure * Rafael Atayan ( hy) (1907–1990) – writer * Poghos Petrosian ( hy) (1907–19??) – bishop * Abraham Gurgenian ( hy) (1908–1991) – painter * Annik Shefrazian (1909–1996) – actress * Aramais Aghamalian (1910–1985) – film director * Johny Baghdasarian ( fa) (1913–1979) – film director * Sumbat Der Kiureghian (1913–1999) – painter * Yervand Nahapetian ( fa) (1916–2006) – painter * Emma Abrahamian ( fa) (b. 1919) – sculptor * Alain John (1920–1943) – sculptor *

Alenush Terian Ālenush Teriān (; ; November 9, 1921 – March 4, 2011) was an Iranian-Armenian astronomer and physicist and is called 'Mother of Modern Iranian Astronomy'. Early life She was born on November 9, 1921, to an Armenian family in Tehran, Iran. H ...

(1920–2011) – astronomer and physicist * Levon Minassian ( fa) (1920–2013) – scholar * Sevak Saginian ( fa) (1921–2003) – politician * Clara Abkar ( hy) (1922–1996) – painter * Hrand Ghoukasian ( fa) (1927–1996) – physician and translator * Arsham Yesayi ( fa) (b. 1931) – tennis player * Neshan Sarkissian (Karekin I) (1932–1999) – Prelate of the Diocese of New Julfa (1971–75), Catholicos of Cilicia (1983–94) and

Catholicos of All Armenians The Catholicos of All Armenians () is the chief bishop and spiritual leader of Armenia's national church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the worldwide Armenian diaspora. The Armenian Catholicos (plural Catholicoi) is also known as the Armenian ...

(1994–99) *

Nechan Karakéhéyan Nechan Karakéhéyan, I.C.P.B. (17 April 1932 – 15 February 2021) was an Armenian Catholic archbishop, ordinary of Eastern Europe for Armenian Catholics (2005-2010), Armenian Catholic bishop of Isfahan (2001-2003) and Armenian Catholic ord ...

(b. 1932) – Catholic bishop of New Julfa (2000–05) *

Krzysztof Penderecki Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki (; 23 November 1933 – 29 March 2020) was a Polish composer and conductor. His best-known works include '' Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima'', Symphony No. 3, his '' St Luke Passion'', '' Polish Requiem'', '' ...

(b. 1933) – "Poland's greatest living composer" *

Nikol Faridani Nikol Faridani (25 January 1936 – 6 February 2008) () was a popular Iranian Armenian photographer. Faridani was born in 1936 in Shiraz. His family moved to Isfahan when he was two and he completed his elementary education at the Shah A ...

(1935–2008) – photographer * Grish Davtian ( hy) (b. 1935) – poet * Alek Ter-Khachatourian ( fa) (b. 1935) – translator * Grigor Nazarian ( hy) (b. 1937) – architect * Varouj Karapetian ( fa) (b. 1938) – film technician * Arbi Hovhannisian ( hy) (b. 1942) – film director * Sako Ghoukasian ( fa) (1943–2015) – opera singer *

George Bournoutian George A. Bournoutian (; ‎; 25September 1943 – 22 August 2021) was an Iranian-American professor, historian, and author of Armenian descent. He was a professor of history and the author of over 30 books, particularly focusing on Armenian ...

(b. 1943) – scholar * Megerdich Toumanian ( hy) (b. 1943) – mathematician * Vartan Vartanian ( fa) (b. 1943) – politician * Nelson Shirvanian ( hy) (1944–2018) – sculptor * Tigran Toumanian ( fa) (b. 1946) – film technician * Armen Der Kiureghian (b. 1947) – scholar * Herach Khachatourian ( fa) (b. 1948) – politician * Caro Lucas (1949–2010) – scholar * Zaven Ghoukasian ( fa) (1950–2015) – film director * Masis Hambarsounian (b. 1950) – boxer * Georgik Abrahamian ( fa) (b. 1952) – politician * Artavazd Baghoumian ( fa) (b. 1953) – politician * Jirayr Kocharian ( hy) (b. 1955) – cartographer *

Hrant Markarian Hrant Hovsepi Markarian (; born 1958) is an Armenian politician who previously served as the head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation party's top executive body, the ARF Bureau. Markarian was born in the New Julfa neighborhood of Isfahan, I ...

(b. 1958) – politician and chairman of the

Armenian Revolutionary Federation The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (, abbr. ARF (ՀՅԴ) or ARF-D), also known as Dashnaktsutyun (Armenians, Armenian: Դաշնակցություն, Literal translation, lit. "Federation"), is an Armenian nationalism, Armenian nationalist a ...

* Robert Beglarian (b. 1961) – politician * Vahik Trossian ( fa) (b. 1967) – football player *

Nairy Baghramian Nairy Baghramian (born 1971) is an Iranian-born German visual artist of Armenian ethnicity. Since 1984, she has lived and worked in Berlin. Using an extensive repertoire of techniques, materials, and forms, Baghramian’s site-responsive sculptur ...

(b. 1971) – visual artist *

Aren Davoudi Aren Davoudi Chegani (; , born July 12, 1986) is a professional Iranian basketball player of Armenian descent who currently plays for Hamyari Shahrdari of the Iranian Super League and also for the Iranian national basketball team. He is a 6-fo ...

(b. 1986) – basketball player *

Oshin Sahakian Oshin Sahakian (, ; born March 21, 1986) is a professional Iranian basketball player of Persian and Armenian descent who plays for Petrochimi of the Iranian Super League and also the Iranian national basketball team. Honours National team * As ...

(b. 1986) – basketball player * Kajayr Hakopian ( hy) (b. 1989) – actor * Armen Tahmazyan (b. 1990) – football player

Friendly cities

New Julfa has friendly relations with: *

Issy-les-Moulineaux Issy-les-Moulineaux () is a commune in the southwestern suburban area of Paris, France, lying on the left bank of the river Seine. Its citizens are called in French. It is one of Paris's entrances and is located from Notre Dame Cathedral, whic ...

, France

Gallery

Entrance of the Holy Savior Cathedral (the Vank), New Julfa.JPG, Entrance of the

. Ispahan Vank Cathedral 01.jpg, Inside the

. Bedkhem Church 09.jpg, Inside the Surp Bethłehem Church. Vank Church -3.jpg, Vank Cathedral. New Julfa - Armenian quarter of Isfahan 02.jpg, Surp Nikołayos Hayrapet Church.

References

Sources

* Yves Bomati and Houchang Nahavandi,''Shah Abbas, Emperor of Persia,1587-1629'', 2017, ed. Ketab Corporation, Los Angeles, , English translation by Azizeh Azodi. * Gregorian, Vartan. “Minorities of Isphahan: The Armenian Community of Isphahan, 1587-1722.” Iranian Studies 7, no. 2 (1974), pp. 652–81. *

External links

Iran Chamber Society: Historical Churches of Iran

Armeniapedia: ''Isfahan''

''New Julda, To be...'', directed by Arsen Gasparyan
– ''Hayk Documentary Film Studio''
Julfa in Isfahan - Armenian Churches and Armenians in Iran
(Video)
Armeniapedia: ''Hin Jugha''

معماری کلیساهای اصفهان – فصلنامه فرهنگی پیمان
{{Authority control Armenian diaspora communities Armenian diaspora in the Middle East Isfahan 1600s establishments in Iran 1606 establishments in Asia