Introduction to the Badarak Ceremony

The Badarak ceremony is one of the largest gatherings of religious minorities in the world, held annually in the province of West Azerbaijan, Iran. This religious event reflects the peaceful coexistence of various ethnicities and religions in Iran and West Azerbaijan, as well as the image of Iranian peace and friendship. The annual religious ceremony for Armenians, known as Badarak, takes place at the historic "Qara Kelisa" Church in Chaldoran. Armenians from other countries such as Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Germany, Canada, and others also participate in this ceremony.

Badarak, also known as the Divine Liturgy or the pilgrimage of Saint Thaddeus, is a religious ceremony held by a group of religious minorities in Iran. Every year, Armenians from all over the world gather at Qara Kelisa, one of Iran’s global churches, in the West Azerbaijan province to participate. This church is believed by some to be one of the earliest churches in the world. Badarak is held during the first week of Mordad (July/August). During this religious ceremony, Armenians from Iran and other countries, along with a few ambassadors from Christian countries in Iran, as well as some Assyrians and a few Catholics, gather at Qara Kelisa.

Badarak is a celebration that incorporates a mix of religious, ethnic, and traditional motivations, and it is also a time for family gatherings, leisure, travel, and enjoying the pleasant climate of the region. The pilgrimage ceremony at Saint Thaddeus Church was officially registered on December 18, 2020, as a shared file with Armenia during the UNESCO World Intangible Heritage Committee meeting, marking it as Iran's sixteenth intangible heritage registered by UNESCO. Intangible cultural heritage refers to cultural processes such as music, dance, drama, craftsmanship, culinary traditions, religious events, and festivals that have been passed down through generations and cannot be physically displayed in a museum.

Location of the Badarak Ceremony: This ceremony takes place at the Qara Kelisa historic complex in Chaldoran, which is one of the largest gatherings of religious minorities in the world, held in this border province. Qara Kelisa is consistently one of the top three tourist destinations in the province and has attracted many tourists from both inside and outside of Iran. It is recognized as an important historical site globally. The people of Chaldoran play an important role in creating a welcoming atmosphere for tourists, and the culture of this region greatly contributes to attracting more visitors. The Qara Kelisa (Saint Thaddeus Church), located 20 km northeast of Chaldoran, is one of Iran’s nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in West Azerbaijan. Many scholars believe it to be the world’s oldest church.

Customs and Traditions of Badarak: The Badarak ceremony takes place on June 26 (early Mordad) and commemorates the death of Saint Thaddeus and his followers. The tradition dates back to 1954, when the first group from the Armenian diocese of Tabriz gathered at Qara Kelisa to hold their religious ceremony. Since then, Badarak has been held annually with Armenians from various countries participating. According to the customs, participants must stay in the church for three days (from Thursday to Saturday), although the duration of stay may be longer depending on family decisions. Families from nearby cities typically attend only on the last day.

In the days leading up to the ceremony, Armenians from various cities, including Tabriz, Urmia, Tehran, Isfahan, Qazvin, and other countries such as Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Germany, and Canada, arrive in groups to participate. The establishment of tents around the church is one of the key features of the ceremony, as there are no accommodations nearby, so attendees must bring their own camping equipment. Church prayers are held in two sessions, morning and evening, during the first two days of Badarak. Additionally, events such as baptisms, weddings, and candle offerings take place during these two days.

Baptism is one of the most significant customs of the Badarak gathering. Some believe that baptizing their newborns in the first church of Christ, the site of the martyrdom of Saint Thaddeus, brings everlasting blessings. Baptisms are sometimes performed on children as old as 15 or 20 years. The third day is the most important day of the ceremony, where church prayers are held once in the morning by the archbishop and are accompanied by the blessing of bread and water. These blessings are distributed among the participants and pilgrims. The main ceremony is conducted by the archbishop of the northwest Iranian diocese, with the assistance of clergy from churches in Urmia, Yerevan, Isfahan, and Tehran.

Who is Saint Thaddeus? Saint Thaddeus (or Saint Thaddaeus) and Saint Bartholomew were apostles of Jesus Christ who entered Iran from the northwest around 40 to 43 AD during the reign of the Parthian king, Abgar. They arrived in the city of Ardaz (now Chaldoran) and spread Christianity, converting many people, including the king. After the death of King Abgar, the new king began persecuting Christians. In 66 AD, King Abgar ordered the execution of around 3,500 Christians, including his daughter, who were buried near the present Qara Kelisa.

After centuries, during the reign of King Tiridates (one of the Parthian Armenian kings), Christianity was declared the official religion of Armenia. Churches, including Qara Kelisa, were built in the 3rd to 6th centuries to honor Saint Thaddeus and his followers. Armenians believe that Saint Thaddeus is buried in a tomb at the right side of the altar of the current church.

Final Words: The 68th annual Badarak ceremony will be held from August 6 to 8, 2022, with the participation of Armenians from Iran and around the world at Qara Kelisa in Chaldoran. This event coincides with the 14th anniversary of the registration of Azerbaijan's churches on the UNESCO World Heritage list and the second anniversary of the registration of the Qara Kelisa religious ceremony as intangible cultural heritage.