Gregory Stephen Church or Gregory Stephen Church is a religious and historical building related to the Safavid period, which is located in the Armenian quarter of Hamedan, on the eastern side of Hegmatane hill. This church has been registered as one of the national monuments of Iran and is one of the popular tourist attractions of Hamadan.
History:
Gregory Stephen Church was built in 1676 AD (1055 AD) by a group of Isfahan Armenians and Russian Armenian immigrants and merchants who lived in Hamadan. This church has been restored many times throughout history.
Architecture:
Gregory Stephen Church has a rectangular plan and consists of a main hall and a library. The exterior of the church is made of clay and brick and has no special decorations. The interior of the church is also simple and without flamboyant decorations.
Different sections:
Main hall: place of prayer and religious ceremonies
Mihrab: It is located in the eastern part of the main hall and is decorated with paintings of Christ and Mary.
Library: It is located on the north side of the church and contains manuscripts and exquisite religious books.
Importance:
Gregory Stephen Church is one of the most important Armenian churches in Iran and is known as a symbol of the antiquity and presence of Armenians in Hamedan.