BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 18. The
Albanian-Udi Christian religious community of Azerbaijan has issued
a statement regarding the revanchist attitude displayed by Armenian
circles toward visits to Karabakh and East Zangezur by
representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in
Azerbaijan.


The statement by Robert Mobili, Chairman of the Albanian-Udi
Christian religious community of Azerbaijan, noted that members of
the community—successors to the Albanian (Caucasian) Apostolic
Independent Church—firmly condemn the revanchist sentiment
expressed within Armenian society and political circles regarding
the visits of diplomatic corps representatives to Karabakh and East
Zangezur, and specifically to the Ganjasar and Khudavang
monasteries, which are part of the Albanian historical and cultural
heritage.


"The presentation of historical Azerbaijani monuments such as
Ganjasar and Khudavang as Armenian heritage—whether by the Armenian
side, including Armenian lobby circles that have yet to abandon war
propaganda, or by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other
high-ranking officials who claim to be committed to the peace
agenda—not only denies and falsifies historical truths but also
jeopardizes the fragile peace process emerging in the region. The
targeted campaign conducted in Armenia against the visit of
diplomatic corps representatives demonstrates that political and
religious circles in that country are not sincere in their desire
for peace and remain intolerant of Azerbaijan's legitimate
rights.


Caucasian Albania is an integral part of Azerbaijani statehood,
and Armenia's policy of denying the historical and cultural
heritage of Caucasian Albania is unacceptable. Such provocative
actions by Armenia are a manifestation of false national
exceptionalism and fabricated history, as well as an element of
racism. Such an intolerant and hostile attitude toward Caucasian
Albania—and particularly its religious and cultural
heritage—clearly demonstrates Armenia's fear of the truth," the
statement said.


The statement pointed out that the Albanian Church, as the first
apostolic church of the Caucasus, has a long history and has left
an indelible mark on the religious and cultural life not only of
Azerbaijan but of the entire Caucasus.


"All attacks against a heritage that created a great culture and
possessed its own alphabet are bound to fail. Undeniable facts
cannot be ignored. History records that in 313 AD, the Albanian
King Urnayr adopted Christianity as the state religion. The history
of the Khudavang Monastery—a magnificent example of Azerbaijani
architecture—dates back to the 6th and 7th centuries. How can
history be altered or falsified? It is an indisputable fact that
the Gandzasar Monastery was built between 1216 and 1238 under the
direction of the Albanian Prince Hasan-Jalal Dawla and received the
blessing of the Albanian Patriarch Nerses in 1240. The significance
and special value of the Gandzasar Monastery for us lie in the fact
that it served as the seat of the Albanian Catholicosate. Princes
and clergy of the Hasan-Jalal dynasty—including Hasan-Jalal
Allahverdi Bey—were buried within the monastery grounds.


Unfortunately, following various forms of pressure and
influence, a decision by the Tsarist Synod in 1836 put an end to
the activities of the Albanian Apostolic Church, and the
Armenian-Gregorian Church attempted to lay claim to a portion of
its material and spiritual heritage. Consequently, historical
Albanian temples in Azerbaijan—particularly in Karabakh—were
'Gregorianized,' and alongside our historical monuments, archival
materials and documents were either destroyed or falsified. Over
the past century, attempts to 'Armenianize' and appropriate the
historical-cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania—an integral part
of Azerbaijani statehood—through various deceptive schemes have
become a cornerstone of Armenia's state policy. As a result, not a
single Albanian temple has retained its original historical
appearance, whether within the territory of present-day Armenia or
in the lands of Azerbaijan that were formerly under occupation,"
the statement emphasized.


The Community asserts that appropriating the historical-cultural
heritage of Caucasian Albania to fabricate a false history amounts
to acting against both the past and the future, and undermines the
foundations of good-neighborly relations and peaceful
coexistence.







"It's unacceptable that this same policy continues today and is
supported by the Armenian leadership." History must be studied,
written, and presented as it truly is. We, the first Christians of
this land, firmly reject attempts by Armenians to appropriate our
history and our religious-cultural heritage.


Historical reality demonstrates that the historical-political
and cultural-religious heritage of Caucasian Albania belongs to the
Azerbaijani state and the Azerbaijani people—a nation where diverse
ethnic groups, religions, and faiths have coexisted in an
atmosphere of tolerance for centuries. As a Christian community
that preserves its language, religion, and traditions to this day,
we will continue to uphold this sacred ancestral legacy and persist
in our struggle against Armenian falsifications.


Just as we, the Udis, worship in the churches of Gabala and
Oghuz, we now freely conduct religious rites and ceremonies in the
ancient Albanian temples located in the territories liberated from
occupation—including Ganjasar, Aghoghlan, Khudavang, Amaras, and
other sacred sites.


Following the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence, a
favorable opportunity has arisen to rectify the injustices faced by
the Albanian Apostolic Church, to study its history objectively,
and to share that history with the global community. The Government
of Azerbaijan carries out extensive work to restore and repair all
historical and religious monuments in the country, regardless of
their affiliation, treating this heritage with special sensitivity.
Notably, magnificent monuments belonging to the Albanian
heritage—such as the Temple of Apostle Elisha in Kish village
(Shaki district), considered the 'mother of churches' in the
Caucasus, and the 'Chotari' and 'Saint Mary' churches in the
settlement of Nij (Gabala district), where the Udi people live in a
compact community—have been restored and placed under state
protection. The restoration of Albanian monuments is of great
importance not only for Azerbaijan but for the entire Christian
world, as it rectifies historical injustices and preserves the
atmosphere of tolerance within our country. For all of this, we
once again express our deep gratitude to the President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.


We reiterate that the liberation of our lands from occupation
has restored historical justice, ensured our country's territorial
integrity and sovereignty, and created new realities in the region.
Ultimately, the Armenian side must accept this reality and once and
for all desist from any actions—such as revanchist propaganda and
the distortion of historical truths—that hinder the peace process,
which is absolutely essential for the well-being of our region and
our peoples. We have repeatedly visited Karabakh to perform
religious rites and honor the memory of our ancestors laid to rest
there, and we plan to visit again soon.


May the Almighty Creator be our helper!" the statement by the
Azerbaijani Albanian-Udi Christian religious community noted.