Located 20 kilometers from Maku, near Baron Village, a centuries-old place of worship rests in serene isolation. Nestled within the Zangmar River valley, this structure holds untold stories and mysteries within its walls. Known as St. Mary Church, it is more famously referred to as Zor Zor Church.
Zor Zor Church: A Simple Yet Priceless Heritage
Despite its modest appearance, Zor Zor Church is one of Iran’s most valuable historical sites, officially listed as a National Heritage Site. Its UNESCO World Heritage status has also drawn international attention. Positioned near Baron Dam Lake, its stunning surroundings create a unique and picturesque landscape.
Architectural Features of Zor Zor Church
The cruciform (cross-shaped) Zor Zor Church was built with finely carved stones, a hallmark of medieval Armenian architecture. The exterior and interior facades are constructed from precisely cut stone blocks, meticulously arranged so that no visible mortar lines appear. The builders expertly interlocked the stones, ensuring their stability without the use of binding materials.
- Exterior Dimensions: 7.20m x 5.10m
- Total Height: 12.58m
- Entrance: The only entrance is on the western side, marked by a metal door engraved with Armenian inscriptions and a cross.
- Interior Design:
- Four elliptical arches frame the interior.
- Four small skylights illuminate the space.
- The 16-sided dome, shaped like a skullcap, rests atop the structure, incorporating additional skylights for natural light.
Symbolism of the Cross
Zor Zor Church lacks elaborate ornamentation. The only decorative elements are:
- Carved crosses on its stone surfaces.
- Artificial columns framing the windows and skylights, ending in pointed arches.
The Historic Relocation of Zor Zor Church
Originally, Zor Zor Church stood in the river valley about 50 meters above the Zangmar River. However, in 1987, as part of Iran’s Baron Dam project, the church’s location was directly in the path of the reservoir’s retaining wall. Once the dam was completed and the reservoir was filled, the church would have been submerged underwater.
Prior to flooding, explosive excavations for tunnel construction had already weakened the church’s foundation, making it vulnerable to collapse.
To preserve this cultural treasure, Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization took the unprecedented step of relocating the entire structure. In collaboration with:
- The Ministry of Energy,
- Engineering firms Mahab Ghods and Peymab,
- The Regional Water & Power Authority,
- And Armenian architects and specialists,
the entire church was dismantled stone by stone and reassembled on a rocky plateau 110 meters above its original site, 600 meters away.
This highly precise operation, completed in just 25 days, set a historic precedent in Iran’s heritage preservation efforts—one that has yet to be repeated.
