Armenian State Symphony to perform at Persepolis
Armenian State Symphony will perform at Persepolis in southern Iran on September 22, in the presence of senior officials from both Iran and Armenia, Deputy Culture Minister Hojatollah Ayoubi said.
He also revealed plans to streamline access for pilgrims travelling to the Armenian Church (Qara Kelisa) in northwestern Iran.
In the run-up to the concert, Ayoubi outlined how the Armenian ensemble’s centenary celebration will “light up” Persepolis, symbolizing goodwill and cultural harmony.
He explained that the concert forms part of deeper co-operation across tourism, culture and heritage sectors between the two countries.
The performance marks a striking cultural milestone in Tehran-Yerevan relations. It follows recent agreements to ease vehicle-based pilgrimage travel to Qara Kelisa, where “roughly 4,000” Armenian pilgrims visited Iran this year.
Ayoubi said the Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports is expected in Iran soon, as both countries advance collaboration in heritage promotion and tourism infrastructure.
Ayoubi described the visit of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian to Armenia as a “welcome step”, saying it helped remove significant tourism barriers.
“This journey is extremely timely,” he said, adding the government delegation includes several senior cultural and tourism figures.
He added that key cultural and tourism documents were reviewed during the visit to pave the way for smoother travel and enhanced cultural exchange.
The minister said that vehicle access will be simplified especially for pilgrims to Qara Kelisa near Khoy, a route used annually by Armenian worshippers. “We intend to provide special measures,” he noted, referencing the recent 4,000-strong arrival of pilgrims, and emphasizing the importance of safe, easy travel.