Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
distance from the city's Islamic centre. At one time over 42,000 Armenian Christians
lived here.
Today there are a number of Armenian churches and an old cemetery, serving a Christi-
an community of approximately 5000. It's worth heading out here (it's not far, southwest
of the centre) in the afternoon, seeing the sights and staying around to enjoy dinner in the
relatively liberal village atmosphere.
Kelisa-ye Vank
کناویاسیلک
(Vank Cathedral, Church of Saint Joseph of Arimathea;
Click here
;
Kelisa St; admission
US$2.70; 8am-noon & 2.30-5.30pm, to 6.30pm summer, closed Fri morning & holi-
days)
Built between 1648 and 1655 with the encouragement of the Safavid rulers, Kelisa-
ye Vank is the historic focal point of the Armenian Church in Iran. The church's exterior
is unexciting, but the interior is richly decorated and shows the curious mixture of styles -
Islamic tiles and designs alongside Christian imagery - that characterises most churches
in Iran. The brightly coloured frescoes took 15 years to create and have recently been re-
stored.
The attached cathedral museum was closed for renovation at the time of writing.
Ateshkadeh-ye Esfahanناهفصا هدکشتآ
(Esfahan Fire Temple; off
Click here
;
Saremiyeh St; admission US$0.50;
8.30am-5pm, to 6pm in summer)
Dating from Sassanian times, the crumbling mud bricks
of the Ateshkadeh-ye Esfahan stare out over the Zayandeh River and the city from a low
hill on its outskirts. The 20-minute scramble uphill is worth the effort on a clear day.
Many buses (US$0.90) travel west along Sheikh Bahaei St from near the corner of Chahar
Bagh Abbasi St. A taxi
dar baste
will cost around US$6.50.
Note that many tour guides will suggest that you visit the Manar Jomban (Shaking Min-
arets) nearby, but we suggest giving it a miss - they're just silly.
FIRE TEMPLE
ZOROASTRIANISM
Zoroastrianism was the main religion across the Iranian plateau until the Arab conquest brought Islam to the fore.
Zoroastrians are followers of Zoroaster (Zartosht or Zarathustra), who was probably born between 1000 BC and
1500 BC, possibly near present-day Lake Urimiyeh or further north in Central Asia - no one knows for sure.
Zoroastrianism was one of the first religions to postulate an omnipotent, invisible god. The supreme being, Ahura
