Christianity in Iran - Main Denominations

Main Denominations

A number of Christian denominations are represented in Iran. Many members of the larger, older churches belong to ethnic groups with their own distinctive culture and language. The members of the newer, smaller churches are drawn both from the traditionally Christian ethnic minorities and to an increasingly larger degree converts from non-Christian background.

The main Christian churches are:

  • Armenian Apostolic Church of Iran (between 110,000 and 250,000 adherents)
  • Assyrian Church of the East of Iran (about 11,000 adherents),
  • Chaldean Catholic Church of Iran (about 7,000 adherents),
  • various other denominations, some examples are:
    • Presbyterian, including the Assyrian Evangelical Church
    • Pentecostal, including the Assyrian Pentecostal Church
    • Jama'at-e Rabbani (the Iranian Assemblies of God churches)
    • and the Anglican Diocese of Iran.

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.

Read more about this topic:  Christianity In Iran

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