Iran’s new metro station honours Virgin Mary
Shiite Islam may be the official religion in Iran, but when you enter Tehran’s brand new Maryam Moghaddas metro station you could be forgiven for feeling like you’re stepping into a Christian church.
In Persian, Maryam Moghaddas translates as “Holy Mary”. The vaulted and arched hall of the station, whose dome is decorated with Persian motifs, contains religious frescoes and works of art honoring the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christianity.
Mary is also a revered figure in Islam. And here he is depicted praying with his eyes closed, a white dove flying just above his head.
Another piece of art on the platform depicts his son, Jesus Christ, watching over passengers as they wait for their train.
The Virgin Mary is universally revered in Iran and is seen as a figure who can strengthen bonds between believers regardless of religion.
Meryem is also one of the most common female names in the country.
“Every single element you see in this station is designed in such a way that when someone walks through here they understand that our aim is to respect other religions, especially Christianity,” Tina Tarigh Mehr, the artist behind the works, told AFP. he said.
“This bird (white dove) is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The olive tree is a symbol of peace and friendship,” he said during a tour for press on Saturday ahead of the public opening of the station.
– Women and ‘purity’ –
In Iran, a large multicultural country, Shia Islam is the official state religion. However, the Constitution recognizes Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity as minority religions, and each of them has their own representatives in the Iranian parliament.
Christianity existed in this part of the world long before the rise of Islam during the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century AD.
“This station reminds us of the divine woman who awakened the world with her purity and raising a great prophet,” Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani said in X.
He added that the building was designed to “showcase the coexistence of divine religions in Tehran.”
The official number of Christians living in Iran is unknown, but various sources estimate the number to be between 130,000 and one million.
In Tehran, a metropolis with a population of over 10 million, St. Sarkis Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the most visible symbols of the city.
It is located near the new station, the construction of which started 10 years ago.
The first metro line in Iran was opened in Tehran in 1999 and there are currently approximately 160 operational stations in the Iranian capital.
Many of them are famous for their artistic mastery, a clever blend of modern architecture and traditional Iranian elements.
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