A Zoroastrian priest dressed in white carefully added wood to a fire that has burned for centuries inside an Iranian temple, sacred to one of the world’s oldest religions.
The fragrant holy fire, kept in a large bronze goblet, “has been burning for more than 1,500 years,” said Simin, a tour guide welcoming visitors to the Zoroastrian fire temple in Iran’s central Yazd Province.
Zoroastrianism dates back about 3,500 years, but centuries of persecution have dwindled its numbers and a fast-changing modern world has left it struggling to adjust.
Photo: AFP
Founded by the prophet Zarathustra, it was the predominant religion of the ancient Persian empire, until the rise of Islam with the Arab conquests of the seventh century.
Today, the Zoroastrian community is estimated at about 200,000 people who live mainly in Iran and India.
They venerate fire as a supreme form of purity. Alongside water, air and earth, the elements must not be contaminated by human activity, according to their faith.
Only Zoroastrian priests are allowed in the Yazd sanctum, covering their faces to prevent vapor and breath from contaminating the sacred fire, as they take turns during the day to keep the flame burning.
The fire “can never die out,” Simin said.
Visitors can only observe the rituals from behind tinted glass.
In Iran, Zoroastrian leaders say the community nowadays counts about 50,000 members. The latest national census, conducted in 2016 and excluding converts, put their number at 24,000.
Over the centuries, faithful have undergone forced conversions, with many of their temples destroyed, libraries set ablaze and much of their cultural heritage lost.
However, “our religion still occupies a place in the history of the world, and it will continue to exist,” said Bahram Demehri, a 76-year-old faithful from Yazd.
“The essence of Zoroastrianism, like other religions, is based on monotheism, prophecy, belief in the afterlife and benevolence,” he said.
Zoroastrians believe that “good thoughts, good words, good deeds” are the key to happiness and spirituality.
A messiah called Saoshyant would one day return and save the world by fighting wrongs, they believe.
Their teachings are embodied in Faravahar, an ancient symbol of a man emerging from a winged disc while holding a ring, which is carved on the pediments of ancient Persian temples.
Tehran recognises Zoroastrians as a religious minority, granting them freedom of worship and representation in parliament, but they are barred from careers in Iran’s armed forces and cannot run for president.
Some Zoroastrian rituals were lost as followers were forced to practice their faith discreetly, other traditions are challenged by modernity, with many followers scattered around the world.
Among the community’s most famous exiles was legendary Queen lead vocalist Freddie Mercury. He was born to a Zoroastrian family originally from India.
Demehri said that there were efforts to “modernist the rites” and simplify them for younger generations.
“It is difficult to ask young people who love pizza to eat our traditional tasteless bread during celebrations,” he said.
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