The existence of Armenians in Iran dates back to the early period of the Achamenian Dynasty (6^th century BC). Since then, Armenians actively participate in the social, cultural, military and economical life of the country.

Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Qajar dynasty, enslaved a large number of Armenian families during his Caucasian wars and brought them to Iran. These families were settled in the Darvazeh Qazvin neighborhood of Tehran, the city that he had chosen to be his capital. These Armenian families built the Sourp Kevork (St. George) Chapel in 1795, which later became the Sourp Kevork Church in 1882. From 1798, after Fatali Shah ascended to the throne, Armenians from all regions of the country came to settle in different neighborhoods of Tehran. The Armenian families,  settled in Shah Abdol Azim, built the St. Bartholomeus Church, now known as the St. Thaddeus and Bartholomeus Church in 1808.

Little is known about the early Armenian settlers of Tehran. Until 1870 no other Armenian organization, except the two churches referred to above, existed. In this period, 10 Armenian families were settled in Tehran and 30 in Vanak, a village located at the north of Tehran. In 1785 a small church by the name of Sourp Minas was built in this area on a land donated by Mostafa Al Mamalek.

In 1870 the “Usoomnasiratz cultural Society” was founded and in the following year the first Armenian school in Tehran was established in the vicinity of the Sourp Kevork Church. Around the same time American missionaries founded a school for Armenian students and the Catholic Church also planned to open a school for Armenian girls. To avoid the younger generation of Armenians leaving the Church of their ancestors, a group of Armenians first established the “Haigazian Organization” and then the “Haigazian” high school. The name of this school was later changed to Tavitian.

In 1930 the Armenian settlers started moving towards north of Tehran. Many Armenian families from Isfahan and Tabriz came to Tehran and settled in the neighborhood of the Tavitian school, where Sourp Asdvadzazin (St. Mary) Church was later built by the donation of Roman Isayev. This Church was consecrated by the Catholics of the Great House of Cilicia, Karekin I Hovsepian and the patriarch of Jerusalem, Guregh Israyelian and Archbishop Nerses Meliktankian of Tabriz.

In 1945 the Armenian Prelacy of Tehran was established as an independent Diocese and Rt. Rev. Father Vahan Gosdanian was appointed as the first Prelate of Tehran. At this time a large number of Armenian families from different parts of the country had come to Tehran to immigrate to Armenia. This process was stopped and these families were left with no other choice but to settle in Tehran. Thus, a Community Council was created to take care of the religious, cultural and social needs of the growing Armenian population in Tehran.

Father Vahan moved to Isfahan and Bishop Rupen Trampian was appointed as Prelate. He continued this office until December 1949, when he was removed and father Hovhanes Hadjian was taking care of community affairs as the Locum Tenants’ of the diocese. The first Executive Council of the Armenian Prelacy of Tehran was elected three years after establishment of the Prelacy and to house it, the Women’s Church Society sponsored the construction of a small building next to the Sourp Astvadzazin Church.

Until 1958 all three Armenian Prelacies of Iran were operating under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin but in that year the ties with Etchmiadzin were severed and the three prelacies came under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia.

In 1960 Bishop (later Archbishop) Ardag Manougian was elected prelate of Tehran and served in this office until his death on October 15, 1999.

A piece of land to construct a new and larger building to house the Tehran Prelacy and a central church was purchased by the funds donated by Markar Sarkissian. He passed away soon thereafter and his two sons, Kourken and Vazken Sarkissian, sponsored the construction of the new building in the memory of their parents. The inauguration of the building and St. Sarkis church was carried out by Catholicos Khoren I of the Great House of Cilicia, on April 29, 1973.

After World War II approximately 20 thousand Armenian families settled in a northeast neighborhood of Tehran called Vahidiyeh. The Armenian population of Tehran further increased after Armenian families were brought to Tehran following the earthquake of Gharaghan. The Sourp Targmanchatz Church was constructed by funds donated by the World council of Churches (1968). In the following years (1982), new churches of Sourp Kevork in Majidiyeh, Sourp Vartanants in Heshmatiyeh (1986) and Sourp Khach (Holy Cross-1987) in Ararat Sports Stadium were constructed. Now there are 8 active Armenian churches and 3 chapels in Tehran.

The Armenian Prelacy of Tehran originally included the Armenian communities of 12 provinces; but now it includes Arak, Qazvin, Rasht, Anzali, Mashad, Gorgan & Sari.

There are now 20 churches and chapels in Tehran Diocese.

Armenians in Tehran have 14 schools (girls & boys) and 4 kindergartens.

There are 2 graveyards, one called “Doolab” built in 1850’s and “Nor Poorastan” built in 1974.

In 1995 a Bachelor’s Degree course in Armenian language and literature was established in Azad University of Tehran, which still continues.

At present “Alik” newspaper (published since 1931, and second oldest newspaper in Iran) and  “Bayman” periodical are being published.

The Armenians of Tehran have 3 nursing homes: “Sourp Kevork” – located in Sourp Kevork Church area, “Sosseh Mayrig” & “Tchiloyan”.

They also have more than 29 cultural, sports and charity organizations. Each of this organization in their own domain is serving the needs of the Armenian community. Most of these organizations operate under the auspices of the Armenian prelacy.

Since 1957, “Avedis Avedisian”, charity clinic has been working. In 2004, the clinic was moved from “Somaye” Avenue to the new building in Narmak area.

When Archbishop Ardag Manougian passed away on October 15, 1999, the General Assembly of the Representatives of the Armenian Community of Tehran, on October 26, 1999 elected Bishop (later Archbishop) Sebouh Sarkissian as the Locum Tenens. Later, on June 6, 2000 he was elected as the Prelate of the Armenian Church in Tehran.

With the election of Archbishop Sarkissian, a new era of committed service has been dawned on the religious, cultural, social and educational life of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran.

The newly elected primate established Christian education department as well as inter-church Publication and inter-religious dialogue offices. Special committees were set up and as a result of that Holy Bible, New Testament, Liturgical and religious books were published. In order to popularize the Christian education popular Seminars were organized and new Sunday schools were opened. Children’s bible was published.

A museum was opened in the name of “Ardag Manougian” Archbishop.

“Agoonk” Centre for the physical and mental disable Armenian children & youth started operating since 2001, under the auspices of The Armenian Prelacy of Tehran, in the courtyard of St. Mary church.Yearly Pilgrimages are organized towards remote regions, where still few Armenian families are living.