The Monastery of St.Stepanos 7th to 9th AC by VafaNematzadeh

Sunset in St.Stepanos Monastery, East Azerbaijan Province,Iran Church Location:15 km Northwest of Jolfa city,near Darresham village & 6km from Aras river in the mountainous area. © Vafa Nematzadeh.All rights reserved.Thank you very much for your visits,likes and comments here. St.Stepanos .. Flame of Art History The St.Stepanos Monastery (Armenian: Maghardavank ) is an ancient functioning monastery of the Armenian located about 15 km northwest of Jolfa city,East Azarbaijan Province northeast Iran.It is situated in a deep canyon along the Arax river on the Iranian side of the border between Azerbaijan and Iran.St.Stepanos is one of the 7 individuals whose Oath-Taking ceremony had been done by one of the apostles.He was a competent and fervent preacher who was arrested by the raged jews and was stoned to death in 37 AC.The mentioned church was built in the memory of St.Stepanos but the exact date is unknown.Upon evidence,the researchers say the church has been constructed in 7th to 9th century AC.The oldest document testifying to the existence of a church in the place dates back to 649 AC and rebuilt in the Safavid era after several earthquakes damaged it. In July 2008,the St.Stepanos monastery was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List,along with two other Armenian monuments located in the region : "St.Thaddeus" Monastery and the chapel of "St.Mary Dzordzor". The Monastery of St.Thaddeus 66 AC : http://j.mp/1eRn6hn via 500px http://j.mp/1gH8ftZ