Beyond Araxes: The Hidden World of Persian Armenia

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan was established in the 17th century when the Persian Shah Abbas I forcibly relocated entire populations of Armenians from the Ararat valley.

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

St. Asdvadzadzin Monastery (1613).

An Armenian gravestone.

The Monastery of St. Thaddeus.

The Monastery of St. Thaddeus.

The ruins of Persepolis (5th century B.C.).

Five hundred years before the Christian Era, Armenians were depicted among the subject people conveying tribute to the Persian king Darius. This relief on a wall in Persepolis shows the distinctive appearance of Armenians in the 5th century B.C., as well as the commodities for which they were known: wine and horses.

Five hundred years before the Christian Era, Armenians were depicted among the subject people conveying tribute to the Persian king Darius.

St. Stepanos Armenian Church.

St. Stepanos Armenian Church.

St. Stepanos Armenian Church.

St. Stepanos Armenian Church.

St. Stepanos Armenian Church.

St. Stepanos Armenian Church.

Women in the courtyard of Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Men in Isfahan.

St. Asdvadzadzin Monastery (1613).

The interior dome of the Armenian Church of Bethlehem in New Julfa (the Armenian quarter of Isfahan). The church was built in 1628.

Scenes from the life of Christ on the walls of the Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan.

The Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan.

A decoration at the Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan.

Decorative tiles at the Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan

The Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan.

The miracles of Christ depicted at the Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan.

A painting found at the Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan.

A painting found at the Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan.

The apostles Luke, Mark, and Peter depicted at the Armenian Church of Bethlehem in Isfahan.

St. Nersess depicted at the Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Christ heals the blind man. Painting at the Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Beautiful gold texture decorates the Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Detail of a painting at Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

St. Kevork Church in Isfahan.

St. Kevork Church in Isfahan.

A carving at Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Bells at Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

A carving at Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

Manuscript repository at Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan.

An illuminated manuscript from the Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan, part of its collection of more than 700 handwritten books, as well as rare manuscripts and historical documents and antiquities.

An illuminated manuscript from the Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan, part of its collection of more than 700 handwritten books, as well as rare manuscripts and historical documents and antiquities. This manuscript dates to 1627.