The Story of a National Heritage: The Formation of the Iranian Preservation. Tools Between Thoughts, Laws, and Institutions

Many significant factors characterize a historical era and its thought about the inheritance of its predecessors. The interpretation of this heritage and its attributed values can reflect the sociopolitical circumstances of the society and the stance of its intellectuals. The relationship of the Iranians with the millennial history of their country and their inherited heritage has been and continues to be a complex historical subject that has undergone crucial alterations since the latter half of the nineteenth century. The present study aims to review important and decisive moments as well as the role of influential figures in forming the modern criteria and institutions for the preservation of Iranian heritage. The essay is divided into two main sections: the first section focuses on Iranian cultural policies in Qajar, Pahlavi, and Islamic Republic eras. The second section addresses the West Azarbaijan Christian heritage by analysing the restoration projects of St. Thaddeus church, St. Sarkis church, and Dzordzor chapel.