Iran’s Underground Church in Wartime

The European Conservative ^ | May 1, 2026 | Jonathon Van Maren

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“Life is hard,” Yahya, a leader in Iran’s Christian house church movement, told David Yeghnazar of Elam Ministries recently. Yahya (not his real name) was sending voice messages due to Iran’s wartime internet blackout, which makes it nearly impossible for Christian leaders like the Iranian-born Yeghnazar outside the country to reach their contacts in Iran. “But we are continuing. And the Lord is showing His glory…”

Despite having no church buildings, Iran’s evangelical population is the fastest growing in the world—some have called it a full-scale underground Christian revival…

The first Persian worshippers of Christ may have predated Pentecost—some scholars believe that the magi who followed the star to Bethlehem in search of “the King of the Jews” were Zoroastrian priests. The Acts of the Apostles records that on Pentecost, Parthians, Medes, and Elamites heard the Apostle Peter preach the gospel in their own language, and church tradition says that Matthew, Jude, Simon the Zealot, Bartholomew, and Thomas reached the region on their missionary journeys.

Christianity has been a continuous presence in what is now Iran for nearly 2,000 years…In addition to ancient Christian communities (Armenians, Assyrians, and Chaldean Catholics), Protestant missionaries arrived in Iran in the 1800s, and their commitment to literacy and medical aid gained them the affection of many…

Since the current war began, getting in touch with Christians inside Iran has been nearly impossible…

David Yeghnazar reported in Christianity Today that Yahya had reached several remote villages to share the gospel and distribute Persian New Testaments…After the January crackdown, Christians “went into hospitals to pray with the wounded” and “visited grieving neighbors.”

“Through gaps in the internet blackout, I hear that many house churches are still meeting despite government checkpoints increasing the risk of being searched and arrested,” Yeghnazar reported.

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TOPICS: Current Events
KEYWORDS: church; iran; persecution; underground

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Saint John Church of Sohrol, a 5th or 6th century Armenian Catholic church in Sohrol, Iran.

[Honorary Serb]

There are very many Persian Orthodox Christian Saints—many more than American Orthodox Christian Saints!

Most of the Persian Orthodox Christian Saints are martyrs! That is to be expected, since Persia went from majority Zoroastrian to majority muslim.

An Orthodox Christian Iran will be a free Iran. Lord save the Iranian people, by the prayers of her saints! Amen.

[lightman]

Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!

[mac_truck]

There are over 600 recognized churches in Iran, including the Church of St. Thaddeus the first Christian cathedral. Thaddeus was an Apostle of Christ martyred by an Armenian king and his tomb is located there.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Thank you for sharing!

[daniel1212]

Despite having no church buildings, Iran’s evangelical population is the fastest growing in the world—some have called it a full-scale underground Christian revival…

Where effectual saving faith costs far more than typically in the West. But as even I know, there are costs here also.