ST. STEPHEN'S MONASTERY

Saint-Stéphane Monastery is one of Iran's Armenian jewels; it houses one of the first churches on the Silk Road. To access the building, the road is breathtaking. A few meters after the exit of Jolfa, the Araxe appears. Bordered by reeds and herbs, the red colour river winds between rocky canyons. On the route, we see a former canvanserail, witness of the past merchant of the road. To reach the religious building, the last metres walk on foot. Passage under a lovely stone bridge and then discover the fortified ramparts surrounding the building. His name refers to the first martyr of the Christian world. The date of construction of the whole is not clearly defined, some place it at the birth of Christianity, another during the séfévide era.

It consists of a beautiful interior garden, chapels and a church. Its architecture is particularly interesting. Crowned with a dome shaped in a cone shaped with sixteen branches, its exterior walls are covered with sculptures representing the death of Stéphane, the cross of Christ and his ascent. Classed as a World Heritage of Mankind since 2008, Saint-Stéphane has had a programme for the restoration of the ramparts since 1974, as well as a study of the archaeological elements of the village of Darresham. Work was carried out regularly in the monastery as of that date. A general problem of stability of alluvial soil supporting the buildings has required important work to consolidate walls and vaults, including reconstruction of the two upper levels of the clock tower.