Deteriorating Condition of Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Kermanshah

“Vahid Ranjanbar” reported on the deteriorating condition of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Kermanshah by publishing images of the building.

The Pentecostal Church belonging to the Assyrians is located in Kermanshah on Shariati Street, Arovin Alley. It was built in 1955 at the request of Priest “Toma Nasri” under the supervision of a Russian engineer in Kermanshah.

Priest “Wilson Isa” who was the priest of this church was arrested in Bahman month of 1388 (Persian calendar) and transferred to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, where he spent 54 days. After Priest Wilson’s arrest, the aforementioned church was closed.

Vahid Ranjanbar, a media activist, reported on the concerning condition of the Assyrian Pentecostal Church in Kermanshah in recent weeks by publishing images from the church on his personal Twitter page. These images indicate neglect of this historical building and problems related to its maintenance.

Over the past four decades, the Islamic Republic government not only shut down many churches in Iran, but in many cases also confiscated the properties of these churches or sold some of these assets through auctions. It is worth noting that the nationally registered “Messiah” Hospital in Kermanshah, which was considered the second historical hospital in the country and was built by American missionaries of the Mashaikh Church, was also demolished by its owner in June of the current year.

The Assyrian Pentecostal Church building in Kermanshah, built on a 720 square meter plot with a 170 square meter built-up area, is constructed with red bricks and sand-cement mortar. Unfortunately, the possibility of wall collapse in the near future has raised concerns.