As the world’s attention has undoubtedly turned toward Iran in recent weeks, Christians have been urged to pray for peace, a thematic focus of the current pontificate. Nearly all of Pope Leo’s Holy Week reflections touched upon the tragedy of war and heartache of conflict in some way. But in a very real sense, at least from a Western and Catholic perspective, generally only natives and experts (the latter of which I certainly do not count myself) understand the complex religious situation in the country, making meaningful analysis all the more difficult. It is without question though that Christianity has a long and storied history in the region.
Many suspect that the Magi had some connection to Zoroastrian astrologers, with various traditions naming one or more of them as hailing from modern-day Iran.
When the Acts of the Apostles describe the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the very first people listed as hearing in their own native languages the words coming from the Galileans’ mouths were “Parthians, Medes and Elamites.” (Acts 2:9). These were, in fact, ancient inhabitants of the lands we today call Iran. Thus, some of Christ’s first followers outside of His immediate circle were those hailing from the region sitting even then at a strategic crossroads, long before petroleum shipping concerns.
Early traditions also hold that some or all of Saints Thaddeus/Jude, Simon the Zealot, Thomas and Bartholomew may have brought the message of the Resurrection to parts of the area before their respective martyrdoms. In fact, Bartholomew may have been flayed alive somewhere in the country. This manner of death is, incidentally, the reason he is still the patron saint of leatherworkers and tanners.
As Christianity developed into a multiplicity of regional expressions, the local Persian Christians took on distinct characteristics from those in the territories of those dominated by the Roman Empire, their longstanding rival.
Perhaps the most famous Christian in the following centuries in the area was Saint Mari (Mar Mari in Syriac), who is venerated as the Apostle to Persia. Originally named Palut, Mari was converted to Christianity under the tutelage of Saint Addai of Edessa. Today, the Holy Qurbana of Mar Addai and Mar Mari is one of the liturgical rites used by the Syro-Malabar and Chaldean Catholic Churches, both of which are fully in communion with the Holy See and the pope. The associated “anaphora” is one of the oldest extant Christian liturgies in the world.
Part of the corporate prayer stirringly proclaims (in translation of course): “And we … who are gathered together in thy name, both stand before thee at this time and have received the example which is from thee delivered unto us, rejoicing and praising and exalting and commemorating and celebrating this great and fearful and holy and lifegiving and divine mystery of the passion and the death and the burial and the resurrection of our Lord our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Estimates about precisely how many Christians are currently in Iran are difficult to pinpoint. They range from tens of thousands to half a million, with not only Chaldean, Armenian and Latin Catholics, but also Russian Orthodox, Anglicans, Syriacs and many other smaller churches of the East. In a sign of his respect for the community, Pope Francis bestowed the red hat on the archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan, making Franciscan friar Dominique Mathieu a cardinal in 2024. He recently had to flee the capital city to Rome because of instability caused by the U.S. and Israeli attacks on the country, though of course Christians have had ongoing tensions with the theocratic regime for decades, which likely played into Pope Francis’ decision in the first place.
In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI recognized this region and its flourishing early churches, “still uninfluenced by Greek thought,” which provided the universal Church “a role of vital importance in the development of theological and spiritual thought.” (General Audience of 21 November). He closed by citing Saint Afraate “the Sage,” whose prayer written in the local tongue can still inspire us today:
“Give relief to those in distress, visit the ailing,
help the poor: this is prayer.
Prayer is good, and its works are beautiful.
Prayer is accepted when it gives relief to one’s neighbour.
Prayer is heard when it includes forgiveness of affronts.
Prayer is strong when it is full of God’s strength.”
An alumnus of Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, Michael M. Canaris, Ph.D., teaches at Loyola University, Chicago.
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