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{{Short description|Georgian Orthodox church in Azerbaijan}}
]
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Church of Kish
| native_name =Church of Saint Elishe<br />Müq. Yelisey Kilsəsi<br />Holy Mother of God Church<br>
Tanrının Müqəddəs anası Kilsəsi<br>
| infobox_width =
| image = Church, Kish (P1090438).jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption =
| map_type = Azerbaijan
| map_size = 275
| location = {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} ], ], ]
| geo = {{coord|41.248933|47.193067|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = ]
| rite =
| region =
| state =
| status = inactive (no parishioners), but mass held by Georgian priest<ref name=Azer>{{cite web |last= Storfjell |first= Bjørnar |title= The Church in Kish: Carbon Dating Reveals its True Age |pages= 33–39 |work=] |location= Los Angeles and Baku |issue= Spring 2003 (11.1) |url= http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai111_folder/111_articles/111_kish_church.html |access-date=1 June 2007}}</ref>
| functional_status =
| heritage_designation =
| leadership =
| website =
| architecture = yes
| architect =
| architecture_type =
| architecture_style =
| general_contractor =
| facade_direction =
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed = probably early 12th century AD<ref name=Azer/>
| specifications =
| capacity =
| length =
| width =
| width_nave =
| height_max =
| dome_quantity = 1
| dome_height_outer =
| dome_height_inner =
| dome_dia_outer =
| dome_dia_inner =
| materials =
| nrhp =
| added =
| refnum =
| designated =
}}
The '''Church of Kish''' ({{langx|az|Kiş kilsəsi}}; also known from different sources<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928153504/http://www.dqdk.gov.az/aze/articles/alban.html |date=2009-09-28 }}</ref><ref></ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608160350/http://www.baku-icc-2009.az/content.php?lang=az&page=24 |date=2009-06-08 }}</ref> as '''Church of Saint Elishe''' ({{langx|az|Müqəddəs Yelisey kilsəsi}},;<ref name=RAA1>{{cite web |last= Karapetian |first= Samvel |title= Kish |work=] |url= http://raa.am/Kish/KISH_E_1.htm |access-date= 2009-06-20}}</ref> Latinised '''Saint Eliseus'''<ref name=Azer/>) or '''Holy Mother of God Church''' ,<ref name=RAA1/> is a ] church, probably dating to the early 12th century, in the village of ], approximately 5&nbsp;km north of ], ].<ref name=RAA1/> It has been inactive due to lack of parishioners since the 19th century, although mass was still regularly held as of 2000 by a Georgian priest.<ref name=Azer/> Archaeological research undertaken in 2000 concluded that it was first built as a ] Georgian church, later to become a ] church ]).<ref name=Azer/> Previous research had proposed that it had functioned at different times as a Caucasian Albanian Apostolic church,
<ref name=Wegge>{{cite book |last= Wegge |first= Bjørn |title= From Jerusalem to Gis: An investigation of the Eliseus-tradition in Courcasis.{{dubious|"...the Caucasus"?!|date=November 2020}} Paper Presented at the Conference Caucasus Albanians in the Past and Present. B. |page= 35 |year= 2003 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2023}}<ref name=KishB>{{cite book |last1= Karimov |first1= Vilayat |last2= Storfjell |first2= J. Bjørnar |title= Киш. Б. (Kish. B.) |page= 23 |year= 2003 |url= http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai111_folder/111_articles/111_kish_church.html |access-date=7 September 2011}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2023}} a Chalcedonian church within the ], and later as an ].<ref name=RAA1/> {{Unreliable source?|date=December 2024}}


==History==
The '''Church of Kish''' ({{lang-hy|Սուրբ Եղիշե Եկեղեցի}}, St. Yeghishe Church; {{lang-az|Kiş kilsəsi}}) is a former ] church located in the village of Kish approximately 5km north from ], ] at an altitude of 1,180 meters above sea level. Following excavations, there have been 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></ref>
According to the 7th century ] historian ], in the 1st century AD ], a disciple of ], 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 near the pagan altar in the small Zerguni valley by unknown people.<ref></ref> According to the Armenian historian on architecture<ref>], the geographical position of Kish does not seem to match that described by Kaghankatvatsi. Karapetian believes that they have identified Gis as the village of Bomen/Bum 60&nbsp;km to the south-east of Kish,<ref name=RAA1/> in ].


According to a Georgian historiographer, in the 10th century, the population of Kish converted to the Georgian Orthodox Church (]). The church of Kish was turned into a residence of a Georgian bishop, functioning till 17th century.<ref name=RAA2></ref> By the time when Russia took possession of the region the village of Kish had ] population.<ref></ref> According to ], the ] appeared to have been prevalent north of ] until the nineteenth century, and the Armenian population appeared to be of relatively recent arrival. While many Armenians undoubtedly settled there fleeing the Turko-Mongolic invasions, many more entered the region with the coming of the Russians in the early nineteenth century.<ref>Robert H. Hewsen. "Ethno-History and the Armenian Influence upon the Caucasian Albanians," in: Samuelian, Thomas J. (Hg.), Classical Armenian Culture. Influences and Creativity, Chicago: 1982, 27-40.</ref>
== Confusion of Kish with Gis ==
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 ], 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></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></ref>, presented through his Azerbaijani colleagues.


According to ], Kish was conquered by ] in 1117 and was given to '']'' of Tsuketi and became seat for the bishop of Eliseni (]), Tsuketi and Shakihi (]).<ref>{{Citation |last1=Minorsky |first1=V. |title=S̲h̲akkī |date=2012-04-24 |url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/shakki-SIM_6788?s.num=25&s.rows=100&s.f.s2_parent=s.f.book.encyclopaedia-of-islam-2&s.q=Fat%E1%B8%A5+%CA%BFAl%C4%AB+K%CC%B2h%CC%B2%C4%81n |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition |access-date=2023-12-30 |publisher=Brill |language=en |last2=Bosworth |first2=C. E.}}</ref>
==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<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>


==Research and dating==
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>.
]


In 2000–2003 the ] funded a joint project between ] and the ] for the archaeological research and restoration of the church of Kish. Dr. Vilayat Karimov of Baku's Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography served as the director of excavations, and the archaeological advisor for the project was ]. ] of various objects found on the site showed that the cultic site found beneath the ] of the church dates to about 3000 B.C., while the construction of the existing church building dates to about the 12th century (990–1160 A.D. ] date).<ref name=Azer/>
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"/>


The existing church building cannot be dated to the times of St. Elishe, but the archaeological 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></ref>
=== 19th century expansion ===


Bjørnar Storfjell stated that there's clear evidence that this church was built as ] church.<ref name=Azer/> Excavations revealed that the church represented two different periods of use, with two different corresponding floor levels of the ] area.<ref name=Azer/> A chancel (the altar area, where the priest officiates) only slightly elevated in comparison to the ] reflects a diophysite view on the nature of Christ (] is seen as equally divine and human at the same time), while a higher elevation of the chancel is typical of ] (] is seen as purely divine).<ref name=Azer/> The officiating priest is seen as the representative of Jesus, and the ] approach reflects on the priest's degree of proximity to the worshippers.<ref name=Azer/> In Kish, the floor level of the chancel was raised during a second period of use from a mere 30-40 cm to about one meter (100 cm) above that of the nave.<ref name=Azer/> According to Storfjell, the architecture of the apse of the original church in Kish suggests a diophysite Christology, and since the Georgian Church was the only diophysite church existing in the Caucasus in the late medieval period, it seems reasonable to suggest that the Kish church was initially built as a Georgian church and was later taken over by monophysites.<ref name=Azer/> At the time, the monophysite doctrine was represented in the region by two Churches: the Armenian and the Caucasus Albanian Church, the latter having adopted Monophysitism during the eighth century.<ref name=Azer/> Storfjell posits that the rising of the chancel floor to 1 meter above the nave floor level took place in the 17th century, while under the control of the Caucasus Albanian Church.<ref name=Azer/>
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"/>


==Gallery==
=== Attacks on the monastery ===
<gallery class="center" heights="100px" perrow="5">
File:Gishi church plan.svg|Plan of the church
File:Kishchurchfrontview.jpg|West facade with entrance (2007)
File:Kishchurchrearview.jpg|Church of Kish from the NE (rear view; 2007)
File:120kish.jpg|Altar and dome (2011)
File:Kishdome.jpg|Dome with cross decoration and chandelier (2007)
File:117kish.jpg|Dome and chandelier (2011)
File:Kishcrypt.jpg|Crypt with burials (2007)
</gallery>


==See also==
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>
* ]
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>
* ]
* ]


=== 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.<ref>"''Caucasian Calendar for 1886,''" Tiflis, 1885, p. 151</ref>

== Recent excavations ==

In 2000-2003 the ], 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 ], ]. ] of various objects found on the site showed that the cultist site found beneath the ] 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></ref> The report and excavations were marred for containing numerous errors and factual inaccuracies.<ref name="Kish"/>
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"/>
==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}}
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references/>
</div>
== See also ==

* ]
* ]


== External links == ==External links==
{{commons category}}
*
* *
* * , Azerbaijan International, Vol. 11:1 (Spring 2003), p.&nbsp;33.
* , Azerbaijan International, Vol. 8:4 (Winter 2000), pp.&nbsp;18–19.
{{Armenia-stub}}
* {{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{Azerbaijan-stub}}
* Azerbaijan International, Vol. 11:1 (Spring 2003), pp.&nbsp;33–39.
* {{Dead link|date=February 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*


{{Caucasian Albanian churches and monasteries in Azerbaijan}}
{{Armenian Churches}}
{{Georgian churches in Azerbaijan}}
{{Georgian churches}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Church Of Kish}}
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Latest revision as of 15:29, 24 December 2024

Georgian Orthodox church in Azerbaijan
Church of Kish
Church of Saint Elishe
Müq. Yelisey Kilsəsi
Holy Mother of God Church
Tanrının Müqəddəs anası Kilsəsi
Religion
AffiliationGeorgian Orthodox Church
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusinactive (no parishioners), but mass held by Georgian priest
Location
LocationAzerbaijan Kiş, Shaki, Azerbaijan
Church of Kish is located in AzerbaijanChurch of KishShown within Azerbaijan
Geographic coordinates41°14′56″N 47°11′35″E / 41.248933°N 47.193067°E / 41.248933; 47.193067
Architecture
Completedprobably early 12th century AD
Dome(s)1

The Church of Kish (Azerbaijani: Kiş kilsəsi; also known from different sources as Church of Saint Elishe (Azerbaijani: Müqəddəs Yelisey kilsəsi,; Latinised Saint Eliseus) or Holy Mother of God Church , is a Georgian Orthodox church, probably dating to the early 12th century, in the village of Kiş, approximately 5 km north of Shaki, Azerbaijan. It has been inactive due to lack of parishioners since the 19th century, although mass was still regularly held as of 2000 by a Georgian priest. Archaeological research undertaken in 2000 concluded that it was first built as a diophysite Georgian church, later to become a Chalcedonian church Caucasian Albanian). Previous research had proposed that it had functioned at different times as a Caucasian Albanian Apostolic church, a Chalcedonian church within the Georgian Orthodox Church, and later as an Armenian Apostolic Church.

History

According to the 7th century Armenian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi, in the 1st century AD St. Elishe, a disciple of Thaddeus of Edessa, 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 near the pagan altar in the small Zerguni valley by unknown people. According to the Armenian historian on architecture Samvel Karapetian, the geographical position of Kish does not seem to match that described by Kaghankatvatsi. Karapetian believes that they have identified Gis as the village of Bomen/Bum 60 km to the south-east of Kish, in Gabala district.

According to a Georgian historiographer, in the 10th century, the population of Kish converted to the Georgian Orthodox Church (Chalcedonism). The church of Kish was turned into a residence of a Georgian bishop, functioning till 17th century. By the time when Russia took possession of the region the village of Kish had Udi population. According to Robert H. Hewsen, the Udi language appeared to have been prevalent north of Kura River until the nineteenth century, and the Armenian population appeared to be of relatively recent arrival. While many Armenians undoubtedly settled there fleeing the Turko-Mongolic invasions, many more entered the region with the coming of the Russians in the early nineteenth century.

According to Vladimir Minorsky, Kish was conquered by David the Builder in 1117 and was given to eristavi of Tsuketi and became seat for the bishop of Eliseni (Elisu), Tsuketi and Shakihi (Shaki).

Research and dating

Objects found on the site of the church dating to 3000 B.C.

In 2000–2003 the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded a joint project between Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University and the Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise for the archaeological research and restoration of the church of Kish. Dr. Vilayat Karimov of Baku's Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography served as the director of excavations, and the archaeological advisor for the project was J. Bjørnar Storfjell. Radiocarbon analysis of various objects found on the site showed that the cultic site found beneath the altar of the church dates to about 3000 B.C., while the construction of the existing church building dates to about the 12th century (990–1160 A.D. calibrated Carbon-14 date).

The existing church building cannot be dated to the times of St. Elishe, but the archaeological 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.

Bjørnar Storfjell stated that there's clear evidence that this church was built as diophysite church. Excavations revealed that the church represented two different periods of use, with two different corresponding floor levels of the chancel area. A chancel (the altar area, where the priest officiates) only slightly elevated in comparison to the nave reflects a diophysite view on the nature of Christ (Jesus is seen as equally divine and human at the same time), while a higher elevation of the chancel is typical of Monophysitism (Christ is seen as purely divine). The officiating priest is seen as the representative of Jesus, and the Christological approach reflects on the priest's degree of proximity to the worshippers. In Kish, the floor level of the chancel was raised during a second period of use from a mere 30-40 cm to about one meter (100 cm) above that of the nave. According to Storfjell, the architecture of the apse of the original church in Kish suggests a diophysite Christology, and since the Georgian Church was the only diophysite church existing in the Caucasus in the late medieval period, it seems reasonable to suggest that the Kish church was initially built as a Georgian church and was later taken over by monophysites. At the time, the monophysite doctrine was represented in the region by two Churches: the Armenian and the Caucasus Albanian Church, the latter having adopted Monophysitism during the eighth century. Storfjell posits that the rising of the chancel floor to 1 meter above the nave floor level took place in the 17th century, while under the control of the Caucasus Albanian Church.

Gallery

  • Plan of the church Plan of the church
  • West facade with entrance (2007) West facade with entrance (2007)
  • Church of Kish from the NE (rear view; 2007) Church of Kish from the NE (rear view; 2007)
  • Altar and dome (2011) Altar and dome (2011)
  • Dome with cross decoration and chandelier (2007) Dome with cross decoration and chandelier (2007)
  • Dome and chandelier (2011) Dome and chandelier (2011)
  • Crypt with burials (2007) Crypt with burials (2007)

See also

References

  1. ^ Storfjell, Bjørnar. "The Church in Kish: Carbon Dating Reveals its True Age". Azerbaijan International. Los Angeles and Baku. pp. 33–39. Retrieved 1 June 2007.
  2. dqdk.gov.az Alban-udi xristian kilsəsi Archived 2009-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  3. affa.az Azərbaycanda din
  4. baku-icc-2009.az Alban-Udi kilsəsi Archived 2009-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Karapetian, Samvel. "Kish". Research on Armenian Architecture. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  6. Wegge, Bjørn (2003). From Jerusalem to Gis: An investigation of the Eliseus-tradition in Courcasis. Paper Presented at the Conference Caucasus Albanians in the Past and Present. B. p. 35.
  7. Karimov, Vilayat; Storfjell, J. Bjørnar (2003). Киш. Б. (Kish. B.). p. 23. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  8. Movses Kaghankatvatsi. History of Albania. Book 1, Chapter VI
  9. kvali.com Georgians [https://web.archive.org/web/20031107072000/http://www.kvali.com/kvali/index.asp?obiektivi=show&n=392 Archived 2003-11-07 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Samvel Karapetian, Online Version
  11. Игорь Кузнецов, "Удины".
  12. Robert H. Hewsen. "Ethno-History and the Armenian Influence upon the Caucasian Albanians," in: Samuelian, Thomas J. (Hg.), Classical Armenian Culture. Influences and Creativity, Chicago: 1982, 27-40.
  13. Minorsky, V.; Bosworth, C. E. (2012-04-24), "S̲h̲akkī", Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Brill, retrieved 2023-12-30
  14. Official website of Baku eparchy of Russian Orthodox Church. Architectural heritage of Caucasian Albania

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