Tehran received season’s first snowfall on Christmas Eve, spreading cheer among the country’s tiny Christian population. This year, the revelry associated with the festival in Iran has been dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing Iranian Christians to mark the occasion without traditional pomp and splendour, reports Anadolu Agency.
On Friday, Iran recorded 6,041 new virus cases and 132 deaths, taking the overall tally to 1.18 million cases and 5,440 fatalities. Although the cases have dropped significantly in last few weeks, the government has been wary of lifting restrictions in this festive season. Numbering around 500,000, majority of Christians in Iran are Armenians who have lived in the country for centuries. Others are Assyrians, Catholics, Protestants, and Evangelical Christians. In the capital Tehran, Christians are mostly concentrated in downtown Majidiyeh neighbourhood, close to one of the busiest intersections of the city — Vali Asr Square. The neighbourhood, which comes alive with colourful festivities around Christmas, is remarkably quiet this year. The celebrations have shifted from streets to homes.
Interestingly, Armenian Christians, who adhere to the oriental Orthodox branch of Christianity, mark Christmas on January 6, as they believe the birth and baptism of Jesus happened that day.
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Judith is a believer, a lover of Christ and a Gospel freak person. A passionate gospel blogger and press writer. I work with GospelHitsNaija.net Media, no 1 Gospel music platform.
