Located in Urmia, northwest of Iran, Naneh Maryam Church is one of the oldest churches in the world. According to Assyrian stories, at first the church was a famous Zoroastrians’ fire temple, and upon the birth of Jesus, three Zoroastrian priests saw a shooting star moving eastward, which marked the birth of Christ, the Savior. Therefore; they traveled from Urmia to Jerusalem, and after returning to Urmia, they converted the Zoroastrian Temple to a church to preach the religion of Christianity. Archeological experts attribute Maryam Church to Sassanid Period based on examining and studying internal architecture, domes, arches, and pillars. There are two atriums with written gravestones on both sides of the corridor of the church which are the burial place for Christian clerics. On the right side of the Altar, there is a narrow corridor which is embedded in the wall and there is a wall oven which was used to cook Sacramental bread. There is a small pool made of stone next to the wall oven and is used to baptize children. Naneh Maryam Church has a fairly large courtyard and has two entrances, one to the street and the other one to the west side of allay. Due to particular beliefs among Assyrians, which they apply to all their churches, they do not use any special decoration, arrangement, and painting inside the churches. The historical Naneh Maryam Church is still used as a place of worship today.
