Video: Easter celebrations thrive at Iran’s Saint Sarkis Cathedral
Abdullateef Fowewe
Vibrant Easter services unfolded at Saint Sarkis Cathedral on Sunday, drawing Iran’s Armenian Apostolic community for worship both inside the historic church and in the surrounding streets, as captured in widely shared video footage.
The footage shows congregations in traditional attire singing hymns and participating in rituals, highlighting a scene of open Christian observance in the Islamic Republic.
The post has sparked online surprise, with viewers noting it challenges narratives often portrayed in Western media about religious freedoms in Iran.
Saint Sarkis Cathedral, a key site for Iran’s recognised ethnic Armenian Christian minority, permits public religious practices at designated locations.
This annual gathering underscores the protected status of longstanding Christian communities in Iran, numbering around 100,000 Armenians, who maintain cultural and religious autonomy within legal bounds.
