About Urmia, Iran:
Urmia (Oroumiyeh) in Iran was a crucial center for Assyrian and Chaldean Christianity, with rich heritage reflected in its many churches dedicated to figures like the Virgin Mary. The Urmia region was a flourishing Assyrian Christian cultural center, producing significant literary and architectural works.
Urmia is the capital of West Azerbaijan province and is situated near the western shore of Lake Urmia, a major formerly second only to the Caspian Sea as the largest saltwater lake in the Middle East, formerly a haven for birds and bathers. Since the early 1970s nature and humanity have chipped away at the lake, reducing its size by about 80 percent. Noxious, salt-tinged dust storms inflame the eyes, skin, and lungs of people as far away as Tabriz, a city of more than 1.5 million about 60 miles away. And in recent years Urmia’s alluring turquoise waters were stained blood-red from algae and bacteria that flourish in these waters.
Urmia was a major cultural hub for Assyrians before World War I.
The Assyrian Church of the East claims continuity with the historical Church of the East, and is not in communion with the Catholic, Oriental Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox churches. We list this church due to its historical significance…and, of course, pray that some day we may all be united)
There is also a strong presence of Chaldean Catholics (in full communion with Rome) and Armenians.
Catholic places of interest in Urmia, Iran:
Saint Mary Church (also called Mar Maryam or Naneh Maryam): one of the oldest churches in Christendom, with parts dating to the Sasanian era (224–651 AD).
Traveling to Urmia, Iran:
By road: Urmia is 478 miles (767 km) northwest of Tehran.
By air: Urmia has an airport, Urmia Shahid Bakeri International Airport (code OMH).