Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic church in Sharjah, Armenian church in Sharjah, UAE
Saint Gregory the Illuminator is an Armenian Apostolic church in the Yarmouk district of Sharjah, about 300 m from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. It was founded in 1980 by the local Armenian community with the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, who donated the land. Its domes carry no crosses, and the interior holds 11 paintings made by Armenian artist Samvel Petrosyan.
The church was built in 1980 to serve the growing Armenian community in Sharjah and quickly became a central place for religious gatherings in the United Arab Emirates. Since its foundation, it has provided a space for believers to maintain their ecclesiastical practices and heritage.
The church is named after Gregory the Illuminator, the fourth-century missionary who brought Christianity to Armenia. It was consecrated in 1998 by Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, and a Sunday school for Armenian children operates alongside it. Eleven paintings inside were made by the Armenian artist Samvel Petrosyan.
The church stands in the Yarmouk district, about 300 metres from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. A Sunday school operates on the premises, so weekday visits are quieter. As an active parish, entry may be restricted during services; check locally before travelling.
The church has no crosses on its domes, as is also the case for the other Armenian church in the country. Its eleven paintings were created by the Armenian artist Samvel Petrosyan.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,728 contributors worldwide.
