Unknown assailants rob ancient ROC church in Tehran

St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tehran. Photo: RBC

On June 10, 2026, criminals robbed the St. Nicholas Church of the Russian Orthodox Church in Tehran. The Russian Embassy in Iran reported that revered icons were taken from the building. The diplomats expressed deep bewilderment and sorrow over the act of sacrilege, noting that they did not expect to encounter people in the country capable of such an offense against the faith.

The cathedral that was attacked is the oldest on the territory of Iran and the only Orthodox church in Tehran. Over the decades of its history, it survived World War II and the Iran-Iraq conflict. In addition, the building remained unharmed even during bombings by the United States and Israel, yet now the shrine has suffered at the hands of ordinary robbers.

Russian diplomats officially appealed to the criminals to return the icons to the church. “We ask those who have gone astray and committed this sacrilege not to burden their souls with sin,” the embassy emphasized. Representatives of the mission also expressed hope that the Lord would forgive those who had stumbled if they corrected what they had done.

As the UOJ reported, an unknown man vandalized the ROCOR cathedral in Geneva.

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