Hassan Dehqani-Tafti
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Hassan Barnaba Dehqani-Tafti (May 14, 1920 – April 29, 2008) was the Anglican Bishop of Iran
from 1961 until his retirement in 1990. Dehqani-Tafti was the first ethnic Persian
to become a Christian bishop of Iran since the 7th century and the Islamic conquest of Persia
. (There had been ethnic Armenian
and Assyrian
bishops in Iran, but no ethnic Persian bishops up until the 20th century.) However, Dehqani-Tafti spent the last ten years of his episcopate in exile after the Iranian Revolution
and an assassination
attempt in October 1979, in which his wife, Margaret, was wounded. In May 1980, Dehqani-Tafti's 24-year-old son, Bahram, was murdered by Iranian government agents.
, in central Iran. His parents, who were both Muslims, were poor. Dehqani-Tafti attended Stuart Memorial College in Isfahan, before moving on to Tehran University where he was trained to become a teacher. He converted to Christianity
in Isfahan in 1938 and was soon seen a leader of the growing Christian
youth group
in the city.
He served as an officer in the Iranian Imperial Army from 1943 until 1945. His knowledge of English
led him to become an interpreter for British officials in the Middle East
. Following the end of World War II, Dehqani-Tafti worked under English
Anglican bishop William Thompson
as a layman
in the Diocese of Iran for two years.
. He left Iran in 1947 to attend Ridley Hall, Cambridge
, a theological college, to prepare for his ordination
. After his ordination he returned to Iran and became pastor of St Luke's Anglican Church in Isfahan. He spent ten years at the Isfahan parish and also did some missionary work within Iran. He briefly became pastor of St Paul's Anglican Church in the capital city, Tehran.
However, Dehqani-Tafti did not stay long at St. Paul's. He was appointed the Anglican Bishop of Iran to succeed Bishop William Thompson
. (Dehqani-Tafti had married Thompson's daughter in an English-Iranian wedding nine years before his ascension as bishop). Dehqani-Tafti became the first ethnic Iranian Christian bishop of Iran since the 7th Century.
As bishop, he concentrated on the growth of the Anglican education system and schools in Iran. He established Iranian secondary schools for girls and boarding schools for boys.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
from 1961 until his retirement in 1990. Dehqani-Tafti was the first ethnic Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
to become a Christian bishop of Iran since the 7th century and the Islamic conquest of Persia
Islamic conquest of Persia
The Muslim conquest of Persia led to the end of the Sassanid Empire in 644, the fall of Sassanid dynasty in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia...
. (There had been ethnic Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
and Assyrian
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
bishops in Iran, but no ethnic Persian bishops up until the 20th century.) However, Dehqani-Tafti spent the last ten years of his episcopate in exile after the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
and an assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt in October 1979, in which his wife, Margaret, was wounded. In May 1980, Dehqani-Tafti's 24-year-old son, Bahram, was murdered by Iranian government agents.
Early life
Hassan Barnaba Dehqani-Tafti was born in the small village of Taft, which is located near the city of YazdYazd
Yazd is the capital of Yazd Province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. At the 2006 census, the population was 423,006, in 114,716 families....
, in central Iran. His parents, who were both Muslims, were poor. Dehqani-Tafti attended Stuart Memorial College in Isfahan, before moving on to Tehran University where he was trained to become a teacher. He converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in Isfahan in 1938 and was soon seen a leader of the growing Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
youth group
Youth group
Youth group may refer to:* Youth Group, an Australian band* Youth club, a social and activities club for young people* Youth ministry, an age-specific type of religious ministry...
in the city.
He served as an officer in the Iranian Imperial Army from 1943 until 1945. His knowledge of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
led him to become an interpreter for British officials in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Following the end of World War II, Dehqani-Tafti worked under English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Anglican bishop William Thompson
William Thompson
-Academics and scientists:* William Thompson , Irish ornithologist and botanist* William Thompson , Englishman who developed the Thompson Seedless grape...
as a layman
Layman
A layperson or layman is a person who is not an expert in a given field of knowledge. The term originally meant a member of the laity, i.e. a non-clergymen, but over the centuries shifted in definition....
in the Diocese of Iran for two years.
Bishop of Iran
Dehqani-Tafti decided to become an Anglican priestPriest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. He left Iran in 1947 to attend Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Ridley Hall is a theological college located in Sidgwick Avenue in Cambridge in the United Kingdom, which trains intending ministers for the Church of England and other churches. It was founded in 1881 and named in memory of Nicholas Ridley, a leading protestant theologian of the sixteenth century...
, a theological college, to prepare for his ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
. After his ordination he returned to Iran and became pastor of St Luke's Anglican Church in Isfahan. He spent ten years at the Isfahan parish and also did some missionary work within Iran. He briefly became pastor of St Paul's Anglican Church in the capital city, Tehran.
However, Dehqani-Tafti did not stay long at St. Paul's. He was appointed the Anglican Bishop of Iran to succeed Bishop William Thompson
William Thompson
-Academics and scientists:* William Thompson , Irish ornithologist and botanist* William Thompson , Englishman who developed the Thompson Seedless grape...
. (Dehqani-Tafti had married Thompson's daughter in an English-Iranian wedding nine years before his ascension as bishop). Dehqani-Tafti became the first ethnic Iranian Christian bishop of Iran since the 7th Century.
As bishop, he concentrated on the growth of the Anglican education system and schools in Iran. He established Iranian secondary schools for girls and boarding schools for boys.
External links
- The Independent: The Right Rev Hassan Dehqani-Tafti: Exiled Anglican Bishop in Iran
- The Times: The Right Rev Hassan Dehqani-Tafti, The first Persian Anglican bishop who left Iran during the 1979 Revolution after persecution and an attempt to kill him
- An Order of Holy Communion for Experimental Use in the Diocese of Iran (1971)