Christianity in Iran
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| Total population | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (300,000–370,000) | |||||||||||||
| Languages | |||||||||||||
| Persian, Armenian, Assyrian | |||||||||||||
| Related ethnic groups | |||||||||||||
| Armenians, Persians, Azeris, Kurds, Assyrians | |||||||||||||
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Christianity has a long history in Iran, dating back to the early years of the faith, and pre-dating Islam. It has always been a minority religion relative to the majority state religions (Zoroastrianism before the Islamic conquest, Sunni Islam in the Middle Ages and Shia Islam in modern times), though it had a much larger representation in the past than it does today. Christians of Iran have played a significant part in the history of Christian mission. Today, there are at least 600 churches and 300,000–370,000 Christians in Iran.
A number of Christian denominations are represented in Iran. Many members of the larger, older churches belong to minority ethnic groups – the Armenians – and Assyrians having their own distinctive culture and language. The members of the newer, smaller churches are drawn both from the traditionally Christian ethnic minorities and converts from non-Christian background.
The main Christian churches are:
According to Operation World, there are between 7,000 and 15,000 members and adherents of the various Protestant, Evangelical and other minority churches in Iran, though these numbers are particularly difficult to verify under the current political circumstances.
The International Religious Freedom Report 2004 by the U.S. State Department quotes a somewhat higher total number of 300,000 Christians in Iran, and states the majority of whom are ethnic Armenians followed by ethnic Assyrians.
The "Country Information and Guidance: Christians and Christian Converts, Iran" report published in December 2014 by the Home Office of the United Kingdom states there are 370,000 Christians in Iran.
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