The Pilgrimage of Saint Thaddeus Monastery is an annual religious ritual held at the

St. Thaddeus Monastery The Monastery of Saint Thaddeus (, ''Surb Tadeosi vank''; , ''Kelisā-ye Tādeus moghadas'') The "Holy Tadeosi Cathedral" is an ancient Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian monastery in a mountainous area of West Azerbaijan province, Iran. It is ...

(locally known as Qara Kelisa) in

West Azerbaijan Province West Azerbaijan province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, whose capital and largest city is Urmia. It is in the northwest of the country, bordered by Turkey ( Ağrı, Hakkâri, Iğdır and Van Provinces), Iraq ( Erbil and Sula ...

, Iran.

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 ...

Christians from different parts of the world gather at this historical site, which is recognized as a UNESCO

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

, to perform religious ceremonies in honor of Saint Thaddeus, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. The event holds significant religious and cultural importance for the Armenian community and is considered one of the most prominent Christian pilgrimages in

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 ...

History and Significance

The St. Thaddeus Monastery is one of the oldest Christian religious sites in the world, with historical accounts dating its origins back to the 7th century. According to Armenian tradition, Saint Thaddeus, one of Christ's

twelve apostles In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Twelve Disciples or simply the Twelve), were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and minist ...

, traveled to Armenia in the 1st century CE to spread Christianity. He was later martyred, and the monastery was built at the site of his burial. The pilgrimage, also known as the Badarak (meaning "Holy Mass" in Armenian), commemorates his martyrdom and contribution to the spread of Christianity in the region. Despite being located in Iran, the monastery has remained an essential religious landmark for Armenian Christians. The pilgrimage is particularly significant for Iranian-Armenians and Armenians from neighboring countries, such as

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

, and Russia. Participants engage in prayers,

liturgical Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...

services, and cultural activities, strengthening their communal and spiritual ties.

UNESCO Recognition and Cultural Heritage

In 2020, the Pilgrimage of Saint Thaddeus was jointly nominated by Iran and Armenia for recognition as an

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance.Compare: This list is published by the Intergover ...

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

. The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage unanimously approved its inclusion, acknowledging its deep-rooted historical, cultural, and religious value. The UNESCO inscription highlights the tradition as a symbol of interfaith coexistence, as Iranian authorities support and facilitate the annual gathering. The pilgrimage is one of the few officially recognized Christian events in Iran and demonstrates the country's religious diversity and heritage preservation efforts.

Annual Pilgrimage Rituals

The pilgrimage typically takes place in July, lasting for three days. Armenian clergy, pilgrims, and tourists arrive at Qara Kelisa to participate in various rituals, including: *Holy Mass and Prayers: Religious ceremonies led by Armenian priests, with readings from the Bible and hymns sung in Classical Armenian. *Baptism Ceremonies: Many Armenian families use the occasion to

baptize Baptism (from ) is a Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely, traditionally three ...

their children at the monastery, believing it brings spiritual blessings. *Communal Gatherings: The event serves as a cultural reunion for the

Armenian diaspora The Armenian diaspora refers to the communities of Armenians outside Armenia and other locations where Armenians are considered an indigenous population. Since antiquity, Armenians have established communities in many regions throughout the world. ...

, with traditional music, dance, and local delicacies being shared among attendees. *Processions and Offerings: Pilgrims light candles, make religious offerings, and walk in processions around the monastery, honoring

Saint Thaddeus Jude the Apostle (Ancient Greek: Ἰούδας Ἰακώβου translit. Ioúdas Iakóbou Syriac/Aramaic: ܝܗܘܕܐ translit. Yahwada) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is generally identified as Tha ...

Preservation and Future Prospects

With increasing global recognition, both Iran and Armenia have taken steps to preserve the monastery and the annual pilgrimage. The site is maintained by Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization ( ICHHTO), ensuring conservation efforts align with UNESCO standards. The pilgrimage continues to thrive as an essential spiritual tradition, reflecting the resilience and devotion of Armenian Christians worldwide. Despite challenges such as travel restrictions and regional tensions, efforts to sustain this historic event persist, ensuring that future generations can uphold and celebrate their religious heritage.

External links

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Iran

Iranian National Commission for UNESCO (Persian)

References