Isfahan. Iran's Masterpiece Of Islamic Architecture

ISFAHAN, IRAN - APRIL 21, 2011: Easter prayers ceremony held in an Armenian church in Julfa quarter of Isfahan, Iran. New Julfa is the Armenian quarter, located along the south bank of the Zayandeh River. In 1606 it was established as an Armenian quarter by edict of Shah Abbas I, the influential shah from the Safavid dynasty. Over 150,000 Armenians were moved there from Julfa (also known as Jugha or Djugha) in Nakhichevan. Iranian accounts state that the Armenians came to Persia fleeing the Ottoman Empire's persecution (see this article on Iranian churches); European and Armenian accounts state that the population was moved by force in 1604 and their hometown destroyed by Shah Abbas( Baghdiantz, Herzig, in Kévonian). All accounts agree that, as the residents of Julfa were famous for their silk trade (Kévonian, Baghdiantz, Herzig), Shah Abbas treated the population well and hoped that their settlement in Isfahan would be beneficial to Persia. (Photo by Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images)