Photo: Wikipedia / Herbert Karim Masihi (CC)
In recent weeks, guards have been stationed outside St. Peter Evangelical Church, the oldest Protestant church in Iran, as governing authorities carry out a planned seizure of the building and surrounding property. First built in 1876, the church occupied a 10-acre plot of land in Tehran. Although an order was issued several years ago, authorities officially seized control of the site last month.
On July 12th, 20 families had been forcibly evicted from their homes which were all located within the church compound. Government agents then took possession of the church building, as well as its schools and administrative offices. The property has since been transferred to the Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order (EIKO), a network of government-controlled companies that generates investments for the Iranian regime. (See more details regarding the church's confiscation.)
Guards stationed outside the church building have reportedly instructed the believers to find another place of worship. Sargez Benyamin, the executive secretary for the Synod of the Evangelical Church (an organization representing Presbyterian churches in Iran), stated that there were six functioning Presbyterian churches throughout the country in 2023. Yet, as a result of several church closures over these past few years, St. Peter church had been the only one of this denomination remaining open in Iran until this year.
While practising Christianity remains illegal for members of the Farsi-speaking population, historic Christian minorities (such as the Armenians and Assyrians) have traditionally been granted limited freedoms to exercise their faith. However, actions such as this recent church closure highlight the significant restrictions placed on those freedoms. While Iran once had approximately 50 Protestant churches, today about a dozen of them are permitted to operate – and only under strict conditions. These congregations must conduct services exclusively in their specific Assyrian or Armenian languages.
Mansour Khajehpour, a former elder at St. Peter church who is now living in exile, acknowledges the numerous challenges being encountered by believers in Iran. Even so, he remains confident in the church's future. "This is the dynamic reality of the church," he comments. "The church will not die. The church will grow, and we are a part of that church." To access other reports addressing the persecution of believers in Iran, including informative video interviews, go to our country profile.
- As these displaced Presbyterian believers in Tehran look toward the future, may the Lord sovereignly guide, protect and strengthen them; all the while, granting them wisdom, peace, and the ongoing assurance that He will faithfully meet all of their spiritual and practical needs.
- Despite the Iranian government's ongoing efforts to restrict the ministry of the church and its powerful witness, may there be a continued exponential growth of Christianity in both numbers of conversions and levels of spiritual maturity.
- Please also prayerfully remember the Iranian followers of Christ who are presently imprisoned for their faith (see PrisonerAlert.com), along with all those experiencing other forms of persecution, asking the Lord to likewise encourage, strengthen and sustain each one of them through tangible reminders of His abiding presence and unfailing promises.
