A new underground metro station in Iran dedicated to the Virgin Mary offers an opportunity for daily commuters to reflect on God’s love for all, Cardinal Dominique Mathieu of Tehran-Isfahan said. Source: OSV News.
In an editorial published last week by Fides, the news agency of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Cardinal Mathieu explained in detail the various bas-relief images of Jesus, Mary and a dove representing the Holy Spirit that adorn the “Maryam-e Moghadass” (“Holy Mary”) metro station in Tehran.
The cardinal noted that while the “gazes of Jesus Christ and His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, are fixed on the commuters,” their closed eyelids exchange glances with commuters, “except that of the ‘eye of the dove’”.
The sacred images, he said, invite those passing by to contemplate “the Love of the one God, which inflames and ignites hearts to walk with gentleness, humility, and a desire for peace, on the path of journeys and encounters that the Creator orchestrates for his children”.
“The Holy Spirit will descend into hearts like a dove, to urge us to imitate Mary’s humble heart and follow Jesus on his path of peace,” the cardinal wrote.
The “Maryam-e Moghadass” station is part of Tehran’s expanding Line 6 and is considered a major station, situated near the Cathedral Church of St Sarkis, the city’s Armenian Apostolic church.
Among the bas-relief images adorning the station are two of Mary: One depicts Mary with her eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer, accompanied by a large halo above her head. The dove, symbolising the Holy Spirit, soars near her holding an olive branch, as she stands surrounded by tulips. Cardinal Mathieu noted that the tulip is a symbol of faithful and everlasting love in Islam.
In an interview with AFP, artist Tina Tarigh Mehr said the images were meant as a sign of respect.
“Every single element you see at this station was designed so that when someone passes through here, they understand that our goal was to respect other religions, Christianity in particular,” Mehr said.
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Tehran metro station dedicated to Mary a call to follow her on path of peace, cardinal says (By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News)
