TEHRAN -- After two decades of anticipation, the Shrine of Shams-e Tabrizi has officially opened in Khoy, West Azarbaijan Province, as a national cultural heritage center. 
The inauguration was attended by Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Reza Rahmani, Governor-General of West Azarbaijan Province, and regional officials, marking a new chapter in the city’s efforts to preserve and promote its association with the celebrated Persian mystic.
The opening was accompanied by another significant event in the city’s cultural landscape. On Wednesday, a statue of Shams-e Tabrizi was unveiled in one of Khoy’s principal squares in the presence of government representatives and national, regional and international guests. 
The square was also officially named after the mystic, bringing his historical and spiritual legacy into the contemporary public realm.
The new statue represents a further expression of Shams’s enduring place in Khoy’s cultural identity. Best known for his transformative encounter with the Persian poet and Sufi master Jalal al-Din Rumi, Shams-e Tabrizi occupies a central position in the history of Persian mysticism. 
His legacy extends beyond literature and religious thought, offering a point of connection between historic places, contemporary cultural practices and the shared heritage of Sufi traditions.
Architecturally, the Shrine of Shams-e Tabrizi has been conceived as a multifunctional cultural complex rather than solely a commemorative monument. Covering approximately 7,000 square meters, the development incorporates a domed hall, an 8,000-volume library and dedicated research spaces. 
These facilities establish a setting for contemplation while providing infrastructure for scholarship, cultural programming and the interpretation of the region’s intellectual history.
The complex was officially entered on Iran’s National Heritage List under registration number 34594 on October 3. Its registration recognizes the site’s historical and cultural significance and provides an additional framework for its preservation.
The shrine’s opening also strengthens Khoy’s potential role within a wider network of destinations associated with Persian Sufism.