Christian temple of early Middle Ages discovered in Azerbaijan

An Albanian temple of the early Middle Ages has been found in the village of Tulu in the Balakan District.

Archaeologists have discovered the temple during excavations around the monument called "Tulu Mausoleum". Scientists suggest that the temple belongs to the period of early Christianity, the "Sputnik-Azerbaijan" reports.

According to Christian sources, the Christ Preaching was brought to Albania by preacher Elisey (in local sources Elisha). He built the first church in the city of Gis, which some researchers, in particular, G. Ibragimov, relate to the village of Kish in Sheki District of Azerbaijan. Christianity became the state religion of Albania in the beginning of the 4th century, when the Albanian king Urnair was baptized in Greater Armenia, reports the website of the Federal Lezghian National-Cultural Autonomy.

Albania Caucasian is one of the most ancient states of eastern Transcaucasia. Till present, the boundaries of Albania have still not defined: the ancient Greeks used that name for the territory from Armenia to the place where Sarmatians live. Among residents of Caucasian Albania, the ancestors of modern Dagestanis, Gels, Legs (modern Lezgins), and Diduras are mentioned.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.