The opening of Tehran's new subway station named after the Blessed Virgin Mary. The interior features reliefs of Mary and Jesus. This was built by the Iranian government to honor Armenian Christians. You won't hear about this in mainstream media, or from the perpetual war machine.
Iran is home to millions of Christians, including ethnic Assyrians and Armenians, and many converts from Islam.
Christians are given a seat in Parliament, as are Jews.
There are approximately 400-700 active Christian churches in Iran.
While the country is overwhelmingly Muslim, they show an increased interest in recent years in recognizing Christmas as a secular holiday, with Christmas lights, trees and other decorations in Tehran.
Who is the best teacher? - Suffering.
Who is the worst teacher? - Pleasure.
What is the rarest skill? - The ability to give.
What is the greatest skill? - The ability to forgive.
What is the hardest skill? - The ability to keep silent.
What is the most important skill? - The ability to ask.
What is the most needed skill? - The ability to listen.
What is the most dangerous struggle? - Fanaticism.
What is the most unpleasant habit? - Quarreling.
What is the most harmful habit? - Talkativeness.
Who is the strongest person? - The one who can understand the Truth.
Who is the weakest person? - The one who considers himself the strongest.
Who is the most intelligent person? - The one who guards his heart.
What is the most dangerous attachment? - Attachment to one's own body.
Who is the poorest person? - The one who loves money the most.
Who is the closest to God? - The merciful one.
Who is the weakest person? - The one who has conquered others.
Who is the strongest person? - The one who has conquered himself.
How do we confront affliction? - With joy.
How do we endure suffering? - With patience.
What is the sign of a healthy soul? - Faith.
What is the sign of a sick soul? - Despair.
What is the sign of wrong actions? - Irritability.
What is the sign of good deeds? - Peace in the soul.
+ Monk Simeon of Athos
When we attempt to make Christianity heal the social ills of poverty, racial discrimination, etc., and we are not at all concerned about the matter of sin, we transfer the Kingdom of God to earth. Thus, by totally ignoring heaven we have secularized in its fullness, a Christianity of this age. The true purpose of Christianity is repentance for sin, and the return to God. The primary purpose of the Church is not to rectify social evils. That is its secondary purpose. The main purpose of the Church is to heal people from sin and to prepare them for the Kingdom of God because we do not have a permanent home here.
+ Archimandrite Athanasios Mitilinaios