Hikmet Hajiyev: Rich heritage of Caucasian Albania preserved its traces in Karabakh
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Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev highlighted the ancient Kingdom of Caucasian Albania and its rich Christian heritage at the Arab Media Forum. Hajiyev wrote on X that the enduring and particularly significant footprint of this heritage could be seen in Karabakh and other parts of Azerbaijan.
He also highlighted Azerbaijan's centuries-old tradition of multiculturalism and religious coexistence, as well as the country's commitment to protecting, preserving and restoring its rich cultural and religious heritage regardless of its origin or faith.
Hajiyev also addressed what he described as the extensive destruction, desecration and alteration of Azerbaijan's religious and cultural heritage during the years of occupation.
He stressed the importance of safeguarding historical truth and preserving cultural heritage for future generations.
Undoubtedly, Caucasian Albania, whose name is mentioned in written sources since the 4th century BC, has a special significance. According to the data of ANAS, in fact, the formation of this state dates back to much more ancient times. Archaeological excavations and findings also prove that the age of the Albanian state on the territory of Azerbaijan is more than 3 thousand years. If we look at historical sources and maps, we will see that the territories of the Albanian state are connected with the lands located north of the Kura River, Karabakh and the north-western regions of Azerbaijan. Among the historical provinces, it is possible to find the names of Uti, Sheki, Gabala and other regions, some of which still retain their historical names today. Starting from the 4th century, the spread of Christianity and the adoption of this religion at the state level in Albania led to the construction of Christian temples and the formation of religious communities in various parts of the country. The churches and monasteries built in various parts of the country at that time became the main centers of religious and cultural life. In other words, the adoption of Christianity in Albania laid the foundation for the development of architecture and the preservation of this heritage to this day. It is interesting that a significant part of the religious architecture that was formed in Albania originated in Karabakh and became one of the main centers of Albanian Christian heritage. For example, Khudaveng, built in the 6th-7th centuries in Kalbajar, Agoglan Church in Lachin from the 5th-6th centuries, Havaptug Temple from the medieval period, we can cite the Ganjasar Monastery, Yeddi Qapı Monastery, and the Pichanis Albanian Temple. In addition, there is the Kurmuk Temple in Gakh region, a 6th-century temple in the village of Gum, and a 7th-century Albanian church in the village of Gulluk. The famous Perigala in Zagatala is also considered an Albanian temple. It is a historical fact that ancient Gabala was the capital of Albania. There are monuments in the villages of Nij, Amilli, Chukhur Gabala, Komrad Mountain, and other ancient temple remains. There are also enough examples of Albanian architecture in the Kish village of Sheki and the middle Zayzid village. In addition, there are enough churches and temples in Gakh and other regions.
In the early 1800s, a new political situation emerged in the South Caucasus. After the Karabakh Khanate came under the control of the Russian Empire, and the 1813 Gulistan and 1828 Turkmenchay treaties, a mass migration of Armenians to Karabakh began. In particular, after the Turkmenchay treaty, the mass migration of Armenians from Iran and the territories of the Ottoman Empire to Karabakh changed the ethnic composition of the region. This migration was actually part of the political strategy implemented by the Russian Empire in the South Caucasus, and it used Armenians to create a Christian base in the occupied territories. This situation also seriously affected the fate of the Albanian Church. The Albanian Church, which had been operating independently for centuries, was subjected to political and demographic changes. In 1836, by the decision of the Synod of the Russian Empire, the Albanian Church ceased to function as an independent religious institution and its management was transferred to the Armenian Gregorian Church. This was the beginning of the process of Armenization of the Albanian churches.
The sensitivity of the Azerbaijani state towards its history, cultural heritage, and monuments continued even after the restoration of territorial integrity in 2020. The state of Albanian heritage and tangible cultural monuments in the territories liberated from occupation was studied, analyzed, changes were documented, facts were collected, and presented to the world.