Several districts of Historical Armenia (Her, Zarevand, Artaz, Parspatunik) are situated in the northwest of Iran, in the provinces of Eastern and Western Atropatene (the territory lying to the south of the river Araks and included in present-day Iran), where the Armenians have lived and created architectural monuments for many centuries.
    In the 1st century A.D., two of Christ's disciples, Sts. Thaddaeus and Bartholomew, came to Armenia to preach Christianity, but they were tortured to death there. The monasteries built in the sites of their martyrdom later became famous places of pilgrimage.
    For many years restoration has been in process in the monastery of St. Thaddaeus the Apostle (also known by the name of 'Gharakilisa' in Iran), Western Atropatene. In September 2001 at the suggestion of the Iranian Government, it was included in the list of the monuments under UNESCO's protection.
    Contrary to this, the monastery of St. Bartholomew, situated in the east of Turkey, was blasted in 1962 by the Turkish army...
    The monastery of St. Stepanos Nakhavka (Darashamb), located in a territory bordering on Nakhichevan, in Eastern Atropatene, is being repaired under the auspices of the Iranian state.
    The restoration of Sourb Astvatzatzin Monastery of Tzortzor (11th century), situated in the south of the city of Maku, is living proof of Iran's unbiased and benevolent attitude towards its neighbour's cultural monuments. The construction of Barun Dam posing a serious danger to the existence of the church, it was circumstantially measured after which all its stones were numbered. The sanctuary was rebuilt in a safer area higher than the lake, its demolished dome and drum being simultaneously restored.
    A medieval Armenian church situated in the north of Iran, in a territory bordering on Turkey and Nakhichevan, was rescued from destruction like Abusimbel of Egypt.
    A great number of standing Armenian churches function in the Armenian-populated regions of Iran, the eloquent proof of the aforementioned being 15 Armenian churches in the city of Nor (the Armenian equivalent of 'New') Jugha, adjacent to Isfahan.
    After the Armenian Genocide committed between 1915 and 1921, most of the territory of Armenia was partitioned among its neighbouring countries where the Armenian monuments are exposed to deliberate and premeditated annihilation at present. Their aim is obvious: they are trying to obliterate the traces of the Armenian people who lived there for many millennia.
   Iran is the only country where the Armenian cultural heritage is rescued from demolition.