Church of Saint Mary (Zor Zor)

The Church of Saint Mary, also known as "Zor Zor" (Dzordzor), is located in Maku County, West Azerbaijan Province, near the village of Baron and about 12 kilometres northwest of Qara Kelisa. This historic building stands on the slope of a foothill, at the mouth of a valley through which the Zangimar River flows, which gives the surrounding landscape a distinctive and unique character. Because of its historical and cultural value, the Zor Zor Church was added to Iran's National Heritage List in Mehr 1381 (registration no. 6157), and in 2008 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran.

Built in a cruciform plan, the church has a sixteen-sided dome with four main skylights, plus further openings in the side walls. Its entrance is on the western side of the building. The original structure was built in the 14th century at the order of Bishop Zacharias Thaddeus (Saint Thaddeus), and it takes its name from the renowned monk "Zorzortsi". In the 1980s (the 1360s in the Solar Hijri calendar), the construction of the Baron Dam put the church at risk of being submerged. As a result, in a rare and meticulous process, the building was completely dismantled, with every stone numbered, then moved and rebuilt stone by stone on higher ground. The relocation took only 25 days and is regarded as a remarkable example of historic heritage conservation in Iran.

To reach the church, travellers can drive from the city of Maku toward the Baron Dam. After passing the dam facilities, which sometimes requires coordination and a permit, continue about 500 metres to a side road marked by a signpost; after 700 metres it leads to the church. Visiting is free and usually takes less than an hour. The region has a semi-arid climate, with hot summers and cold, snowy winters, so the best times to visit are mid-spring and autumn. When visiting, responsible nature-tourism practices are important: do not write on the walls or damage the structure, do not leave litter behind, and respect the spiritual atmosphere of the church by being quiet and courteous.