A soon-to-open metro station in Tehran built in honor of Iran’s Armenian community will feature striking interior artwork celebrating Armenian heritage. The Tehran Municipality has revealed the design of the Maryam-e Moghaddas (Saint Mary) metro station, which showcases a detailed bas-relief of the Armenian St. Sarkis Cathedral and Armenian script—an important public acknowledgment of Iran’s Christian heritage.
Located on Line 6 at the intersection of Ostad Nejatollahi and Karim Khan Zand streets, the station is near Saint Sarkis Cathedral, one of the capital’s key Armenian Apostolic churches and the seat of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran. The bas-relief captures the cathedral’s distinctive conical domes and cross-topped towers, while a large green geometric rosette blends Islamic ornamental motifs with Armenian ecclesiastical elements, symbolizing cultural coexistence.
Inside the station, several wall reliefs and murals feature central themes of Christianity and Armenian identity. One panel depicts Jesus Christ with outstretched arms, while another presents a graceful image of the Virgin Mary holding a candle, surrounded by floral patterns, grapevines, and a dove carrying an olive branch. A third artwork portrays St. Sarkis Cathedral alongside symbolic geometric motifs that merge Islamic and Armenian design. Together, the artworks reflect harmony, peace, and respect for Iran’s Christian and Armenian heritage.
Managed by the Tehran Municipality’s Urban Art and Beautification Organization, the project marks the first artistic representation of an Armenian religious center in the city’s metro network. Officials say the artwork is part of a broader initiative to celebrate Tehran’s multi-faith identity through public spaces.
The Armenian community in Iran has maintained a continuous presence for over four centuries, shaped by historic migration patterns and state-organized resettlements during the Safavid era. Despite demographic changes over time, the community continues to play an active role in the country’s cultural and civic life.
According to multiple demographic studies, between 150,000 and 300,000 Armenians currently live in Iran, making up the country’s largest Christian minority. The community is concentrated primarily in Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz, where the Armenian Apostolic Church administers three dioceses—Tehran, Isfahan, and Atrpatakan—each officially recognized by the Iranian state as the religious and administrative authority for local Armenians. Under the Iranian Constitution, Armenians are also guaranteed two seats in the national parliament (Majlis), ensuring representation for both northern and southern dioceses.
The Maryam-e Moghaddas station, still under construction, is in its final stages and is expected to open later this autumn. Once operational, it will become the 25th station on Line 6, connecting central Tehran’s cultural and residential districts.
