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[[Image:DSC00196.JPG|thumb|Church of Kish]] |
[[Image:DSC00196.JPG|thumb|Church of Kish]] |
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The '''Church of Kish''' ({{lang-az|Kiş kilsəsi}}) is located in the village of Kish approximately 5km north from [[Shaki]], [[Azerbaijan]] |
The '''Church of Kish''' ({{lang-hy|Սուրբ Եղիշե Եկեղեցի}}, St. Yeghishe Church; {{lang-az|Kiş kilsəsi}}) is a former [[Armenian Apostolic]] church located in the village of Kish approximately 5km north from [[Shaki]], [[Azerbaijan]] at an altitude of 1,180 meters above sea level. Following excavations, there were plans to turn the church into a museum.<ref name="bozo"/> In 2003, the Albanian-Udi Christian community, led by Robert Mobili was registered by the state. It became possible after the restoration of church at Kish.<ref>[http://www.pravoslavie.ru/put/070126150112 Orthodoxy in Azerbaijan]</ref> Today, the cite serves as a museum attracting large numbers of foreign and domestic visitors.<ref>[http://www.nhe-az.org/index.html Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise News]</ref> |
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== Confusion of Kish with Gis == |
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Many individuals have confused the location of Kish with Gis.<ref>Jalaliants, S., ''Journey to Great Armenia'', Tpkhis, 1858, p. 370</ref>However, a study by the professor Bagrat Ulubabian differentiated the two locations.<ref> Ulubabian, B., ''Verification of Certain Historical and Geographical Names'', in "''Banber Yerevani Hamalsarani,''" 1971, N 1, pp. 176-177 .</ref> According to [[Moses Kalankatuatsi]], the settlement was situated "''...in a swampy, salt-rich site which was called Gis...''"<ref> Movses Kaghankatvatsi, ''History of Aghvank'', Yerevan, 1983, p. 95</ref> Meanwhile, Kish is in an area of wooded mountains. <ref name=Kish>[http://www.raa.am/Kish/KISH_E_1.htm Karapetian, Samvel. ''Kish Village, Shaki District, Republic of Azerbaijan''. Research on Armenian Architecture.]</ref> Therefore, the location of Gis that Movses Kalankatuatsi referred to cannot be the Kish where this church is located <ref name="Kish"/>. Later Azerbaijani authors who wrote on the topic ignored this and continued the confusion of equating Kish with Gis.<ref>Mammadova, Gulchohra. "''The Azerbaijan-Norwegian Kish Project: Progress Report." The History of Caucasus: Scientific Public Almanac 2''(June 2002). p. 33-40.</ref> Most recently, the Norwegian Bjornar Storfjell repeated the same error<ref name=bozo>[http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/84_folder/84_articles/84_kish.html Azerbaijan International Magazine - The Kish Church, Digging Up History, Norwegians Help Restore Ancient Church: An interview with J. Bjornar Storfjell]</ref>, presented through his Azerbaijani colleagues. |
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The medieval literary tradition suggests that the church was established in 62 A.D. by [[Saint Elishe]], a disciple of [[Thaddeus of Edessa]].<ref>[http://baku.eparhia.ru/history/articles/interview/ Interview with Russian Ortodox Baku and Caspian Bishop Alexander]</ref><ref>[http://www.pravoslavie.ru/put/070126150112 Ortodox in Azerbaijan]</ref> |
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The origins of the town and founding of the church of St. Yeghishe are unclear. Some sources cite this church as the first church founded by St. Elisha the Apostle<ref>"''Meghu Hayastani''" 1881, N 123, p. 1</ref> In the meantime, the plan of the current church is dated from the 12-13th centuries.<ref name="Kish"/> A record attests to the construction of the church as part of a monastery in 1244 by the Archbishop Serapheme, and it's later destruction during Agha Muhammad Khan's invasions.<ref> "''Caucasian Calendar for 1852''", Tiflis, 1851, p. 271 "''Монастыр во имя Св. Апостола Егишея при селении Киш и Киш построен в 1244 г. по Р. Х. Архидиаконом Серафимом. Опустел во время нашествия Шаха Агамагмада''".</ref> |
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In 1310, the Georgian Bishop Kyurile Donauri cites the church under the name of St. Astvatsatsin(Mother of God) and it's historical Armenian settlement<ref>Muradian, P., ''The Georgian Inscriptions of Armenia'', Yerevan, 1977, p. 11</ref>. |
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According to [[Moses Kalankatuatsi]], St. Elishe arrived to a place called Gis, where he built a church and recited a liturgy. The church became the "spiritual center and the place of enlightenment of people of the East". On his way from Gis St. Elishe was killed by unknown people.<ref>[http://www.vostlit.info/Texts/rus5/Kalank/text11.phtml?id=618 Moses Kalankatuatsi. History of Albania. Book 1, Chapter VI]</ref> It is believed that Gis is a reference to Kish. <ref name="eparhia">[http://baku.eparhia.ru/history/albania/architrave/ Official website of Baku eparchy of Russian Orthodox Church. Architectural heritage of Caucasian Albania.]</ref> |
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In 1727 the Armenian population was oppressed by the khan, with some scattering, while others being forced to lose their religion. However, they maintained their Armenian names and continued to attend and venerate the monastery.<ref>"''Nor-Dar''" 1889, N 208, p. 2</ref> When Russia came into control of this region many Armenians converts applied to restore their faiths.<ref name="Kish"/> |
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The church (referred to as "Mother of All Eastern Churches")<ref>[http://www.sedmitza.ru/index.html?sid=582&did=26656&p_comment=history Visit of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexius II to Azerbaijan]</ref> was the first church of [[Caucasian Albania]] <ref>[http://www.world66.com/europe/azerbaijan/saki/lib/gallery/showimage?pic=europe/azerbaijan/saki/coucasian_albanian_1]</ref> and is believed to be the first church built in the [[Caucasus]].<ref>[http://baku.eparhia.ru/history/articles/interview/ Interview with Russian Ortodox Baku and Caspian Bishop Alexander]</ref> |
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=== 19th century expansion === |
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Starting with the second half of the 19th century the monastery and church saw much expansion and renovation. In the 1860's, the prior of the monastery, Gevorg Aramiants carried out some overhaul in Kish's Monastery.<ref>"''Ararat''," 1875, pp. 31-32</ref> An Armenian inscription dated 1865 commemorated some of this restoration, but has since disappeared. <ref name="Kish"/> |
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| ⚫ | In 2000-2003 the [[Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] funded a joint project between Baku State University for Architecture and Construction and the Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise |
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=== Attacks on the monastery === |
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The existing church building cannot be dated to the times of St. Elishe, but the archeological evidence demonstrates that the church is located on an ancient cultic site. It is very unlikely that St. Elishe built in Kish a church in the modern understanding of this word. Even if the person did exist, it appears likely that he built only the altar or used an existing pagan cult structure.<ref name="eparhia"/> |
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As an Armenian monastery in a Muslim village, there were special difficulties associated with the place. In 1885 some windows of the monastery were broken by locals in relation to a fight that had broken out. <ref>"''Nor-Dar''," 1885, N 135, p. 1</ref> |
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The year 1909 showed another example of intolerance towards the existence of an Armenian monastery in the village when dome cross of the local sanctuary became a target of firing for some Muslims. Facing the protest raised by the Armenians, they promised to repair the leaning cross, otherwise bringing secular authorities to the conflict. <ref>"''Surhandak,''" 1909, N 16, p. 3</ref> |
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=== Place of pilgrimage === |
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In the 19th century, St. Yeghishe was a famous and sacred place of pilgrimage for the Armenians throughout Transcaucasia. They annually gathered there to celebrate Vardavar.<ref>"''Caucasian Calendar for 1886,''" Tiflis, 1885, p. 151</ref> |
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== Recent excavations == |
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| ⚫ | In 2000-2003 the [[Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], who suggested vested interests in Azerbaijan, funded a joint project between Baku State University for Architecture and Construction and the Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise, an organization with ties to the Lutheran Church in Norway, which began working with refugees in Azerbaijan in January 1994. They aided archaeological research and restoration of the church of Kish. Dr. Vilayat Karimov of Baku's Institute of Archeology and Ethnography served as the Director of Excavations, and the Archaeological Advisor for the project was J. Bjørnar Storfjell, who currently directs the Thor Heyerdahl Research Centre in [[Aylesbury]], [[England]]. [[Radiocarbon dating|Radiocarbon analysis]] of various objects found on the site showed that the cultist site found beneath the [[altar]] of the church dates to about 3000 B.C.{{dubious}}, while the construction of the existing church building dates to about the 12th century (990-1160 A.D.){{dubious}}.<ref>[http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai111_folder/111_articles/111_kish_project.html Azerbaijan International Magazine. About the Kish Church Reconstruction Project]</ref> The report and excavations were marred for containing numerous errors and factual inaccuracies.<ref name="Kish"/> |
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Not only did the most recent work reiterate the confusion of Kish and Gis, but also claimed the monastery has been inactive for nearly 200 years now, contrary to numerous reports.<ref name="bozo"/> |
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<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> |
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<references/> |
<references/> |
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</div> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* |
*[http://www.world66.com/europe/azerbaijan/saki/lib/gallery/showimage?pic=europe/azerbaijan/saki/coucasian_albanian_1 Photo of Church] |
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*[http://www.raa.am/Kish/KISH_E_2.htm Research on Armenian Architecture: Kish village, Shaki District, Republic of Azerbaijan] |
*[http://www.raa.am/Kish/KISH_E_2.htm Research on Armenian Architecture: Kish village, Shaki District, Republic of Azerbaijan] |
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* [http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/84_folder/84_articles/84_kish.html The Kish Church] |
* [http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/84_folder/84_articles/84_kish.html The Kish Church] |
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[[Category:Armenian Apostolic Churches]] |
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[[Category:Churches in Azerbaijan]] |
[[Category:Churches in Azerbaijan]] |
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Revision as of 23:00, 19 June 2007
The Church of Kish (Armenian: Սուրբ Եղիշե Եկեղեցի, St. Yeghishe Church; Azerbaijani: Kiş kilsəsi) is a former Armenian Apostolic church located in the village of Kish approximately 5km north from Shaki, Azerbaijan at an altitude of 1,180 meters above sea level. Following excavations, there were plans to turn the church into a museum.[1] In 2003, the Albanian-Udi Christian community, led by Robert Mobili was registered by the state. It became possible after the restoration of church at Kish.[2] Today, the cite serves as a museum attracting large numbers of foreign and domestic visitors.[3]
Confusion of Kish with Gis
Many individuals have confused the location of Kish with Gis.[4]However, a study by the professor Bagrat Ulubabian differentiated the two locations.[5] According to Moses Kalankatuatsi, the settlement was situated "...in a swampy, salt-rich site which was called Gis..."[6] Meanwhile, Kish is in an area of wooded mountains. [7] Therefore, the location of Gis that Movses Kalankatuatsi referred to cannot be the Kish where this church is located [7]. Later Azerbaijani authors who wrote on the topic ignored this and continued the confusion of equating Kish with Gis.[8] Most recently, the Norwegian Bjornar Storfjell repeated the same error[1], presented through his Azerbaijani colleagues.
History of church
The origins of the town and founding of the church of St. Yeghishe are unclear. Some sources cite this church as the first church founded by St. Elisha the Apostle[9] In the meantime, the plan of the current church is dated from the 12-13th centuries.[7] A record attests to the construction of the church as part of a monastery in 1244 by the Archbishop Serapheme, and it's later destruction during Agha Muhammad Khan's invasions.[10]
In 1310, the Georgian Bishop Kyurile Donauri cites the church under the name of St. Astvatsatsin(Mother of God) and it's historical Armenian settlement[11].
In 1727 the Armenian population was oppressed by the khan, with some scattering, while others being forced to lose their religion. However, they maintained their Armenian names and continued to attend and venerate the monastery.[12] When Russia came into control of this region many Armenians converts applied to restore their faiths.[7]
19th century expansion
Starting with the second half of the 19th century the monastery and church saw much expansion and renovation. In the 1860's, the prior of the monastery, Gevorg Aramiants carried out some overhaul in Kish's Monastery.[13] An Armenian inscription dated 1865 commemorated some of this restoration, but has since disappeared. [7]
Attacks on the monastery
As an Armenian monastery in a Muslim village, there were special difficulties associated with the place. In 1885 some windows of the monastery were broken by locals in relation to a fight that had broken out. [14] The year 1909 showed another example of intolerance towards the existence of an Armenian monastery in the village when dome cross of the local sanctuary became a target of firing for some Muslims. Facing the protest raised by the Armenians, they promised to repair the leaning cross, otherwise bringing secular authorities to the conflict. [15]
Place of pilgrimage
In the 19th century, St. Yeghishe was a famous and sacred place of pilgrimage for the Armenians throughout Transcaucasia. They annually gathered there to celebrate Vardavar.[16]
Recent excavations
In 2000-2003 the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who suggested vested interests in Azerbaijan, funded a joint project between Baku State University for Architecture and Construction and the Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise, an organization with ties to the Lutheran Church in Norway, which began working with refugees in Azerbaijan in January 1994. They aided archaeological research and restoration of the church of Kish. Dr. Vilayat Karimov of Baku's Institute of Archeology and Ethnography served as the Director of Excavations, and the Archaeological Advisor for the project was J. Bjørnar Storfjell, who currently directs the Thor Heyerdahl Research Centre in Aylesbury, England. Radiocarbon analysis of various objects found on the site showed that the cultist site found beneath the altar of the church dates to about 3000 B.C.[dubious ], while the construction of the existing church building dates to about the 12th century (990-1160 A.D.)[dubious ].[17] The report and excavations were marred for containing numerous errors and factual inaccuracies.[7] Not only did the most recent work reiterate the confusion of Kish and Gis, but also claimed the monastery has been inactive for nearly 200 years now, contrary to numerous reports.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Azerbaijan International Magazine - The Kish Church, Digging Up History, Norwegians Help Restore Ancient Church: An interview with J. Bjornar Storfjell
- ^ Orthodoxy in Azerbaijan
- ^ Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise News
- ^ Jalaliants, S., Journey to Great Armenia, Tpkhis, 1858, p. 370
- ^ Ulubabian, B., Verification of Certain Historical and Geographical Names, in "Banber Yerevani Hamalsarani," 1971, N 1, pp. 176-177 .
- ^ Movses Kaghankatvatsi, History of Aghvank, Yerevan, 1983, p. 95
- ^ a b c d e f Karapetian, Samvel. Kish Village, Shaki District, Republic of Azerbaijan. Research on Armenian Architecture.
- ^ Mammadova, Gulchohra. "The Azerbaijan-Norwegian Kish Project: Progress Report." The History of Caucasus: Scientific Public Almanac 2(June 2002). p. 33-40.
- ^ "Meghu Hayastani" 1881, N 123, p. 1
- ^ "Caucasian Calendar for 1852", Tiflis, 1851, p. 271 "Монастыр во имя Св. Апостола Егишея при селении Киш и Киш построен в 1244 г. по Р. Х. Архидиаконом Серафимом. Опустел во время нашествия Шаха Агамагмада".
- ^ Muradian, P., The Georgian Inscriptions of Armenia, Yerevan, 1977, p. 11
- ^ "Nor-Dar" 1889, N 208, p. 2
- ^ "Ararat," 1875, pp. 31-32
- ^ "Nor-Dar," 1885, N 135, p. 1
- ^ "Surhandak," 1909, N 16, p. 3
- ^ "Caucasian Calendar for 1886," Tiflis, 1885, p. 151
- ^ Azerbaijan International Magazine. About the Kish Church Reconstruction Project