The Last Days of Atla Kandi

Nestled in the green meadows of the Plain of Urmia in Northwest Iran are located numerous Christian villages with a rich historical heritage. Atla kandi, as it is known by Assyrians, is one of the oldest villages in Urmia. Its antiquity is attested by the historical buildings that are part of its landscape. One of these buildings is the Church of Mar Gewargis. The tombstones in the adjacent cemetery attest to the antiquity of both the village and the Church. This monument is listed as a historical site by the Iranian Ministry of Art and Culture. To the Church belongs the 300 year’s old handwritten book of Khudra (The Assyrian book of Civil and Canon Law). The codex dates back to 1719 A.D. This book is a must-read for those who are interested in the history of antiquity and ancient village communities rooted in pre-historic times.