First printed literature in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic produced at Urmia

Background. Justin Perkins arrived in Qajar Iran in 1833 as a missionary for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. His appointment targeted the remaining members of the Assyrian Church of the East in northwestern Iran. He established a missionary center in Urmia in 1835, alongside Asahel Grant, to address the needs of the local Christian population.

Printing Press Establishment. Perkins established a printing press at Urmia, which became the site for producing the first printed literature in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic. The press facilitated the creation of eighty works that Perkins either translated or wrote. This effort created the opportunity to put the vernacular Assyrian Neo-Aramaic of the Christians of northwest Iran into writing.

Missionary Context. The American presence in Urmia began in 1835, led by Perkins and Asahel Grant. This mission served the indigenous Christian Aramaic speakers, members of the Assyrian Church of the East. The mission's activities, including the printing press, set the tone for the American presence in Iran during the second half of the 19th century.