Baku, September 18, AZERTAC

Azerbaijan’s Alban-Udi Christian Community has condemned Armenia's revanchist reaction regarding the visit of the diplomatic corps to the liberated territories.

Chairman of the Alban-Udi Christian Community Robert Mobili issued a statement in this regard. The statement reads:

"In the name of our One Creator.

We, members of the Alban-Udi Christian Community, the successor to the Albanian (Caucasian) Apostolic Independent Church, strongly condemn the revanchist sentiment displayed in Armenian society and political circles toward the visit of representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan to Garabagh and East Zangezur, particularly to the Ganjasar and Khudavang monasteries, which belong to the Caucasian Albanian historical and cultural heritage.

We believe that the Armenian side, including Armenian lobby circles that have not abandoned war propaganda, as well as Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who claims to be committed to the peace agenda, and other high-ranking officials, by presenting historical Azerbaijani monuments such as Ganjasar and Khudavang as Armenian heritage not only denies and falsifies historical facts, but also poses a threat to the fragile peace process taking shape in the region. The purposeful campaign conducted in Armenia against the visit of diplomatic corps representatives demonstrates that political and religious circles in that country are insincere in their desire for peace and still hold an intolerant stance toward Azerbaijan's legitimate rights.

We declare that 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 activity by Armenia is a manifestation of fake national exclusivity, false history, and an element of racism. Such an intolerant and hostile attitude toward Caucasian Albania, especially toward its religious and cultural heritage, clearly demonstrates that Armenia fears the truth.

As the first apostolic church in the Caucasus, the Albanian Church has traversed a long historical path, leaving indelible traces in the religious and cultural life not only of Azerbaijan, but also of the entire Caucasus. All attacks against a heritage that created a great culture and possessed its own alphabet will end in failure. Unassailable facts cannot be denied. It is known from history that in 313, the Albanian King Urnayr accepted Christianity as the state religion. The history of the Khudavang Monastery, one of the magnificent examples of Azerbaijani architecture, dates back to the 6th–7th centuries. How can history be altered or falsified? It is an undeniable truth that the Ganjasar Monastery was built between 1216 and 1238 by order of the Caucasian Albanian Prince Hasan Jalal Dawla and received the blessing of the Albanian Patriarch Nerses in 1240. The significance and special value of the Ganjasar Monastery for us lies in the fact that it served as the residence of the Caucasian Albanian Catholicosate. Princes and clergy from the dynasty of Hasan Jalal, including Hasan Jalal Allahverdi bey, were buried on the grounds of the monastery.

Regrettably, following various pressures and influences, the decision of the Tsarist Synod put an end to the activities of the Caucasian Albanian Apostolic Church in 1836, and the Armenian Gregorian Church attempted to claim a portion of its material and spiritual heritage. As a result, historical Albanian temples in Azerbaijan, particularly in Garabagh, were Gregorianized, and along with our historical monuments, archival materials and documents were either destroyed or falsified. The attempts to Armenize and appropriate the historical and cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania, an integral part of Azerbaijani statehood, through all kinds of false means have turned into Armenia's state policy over the last century. As a result, not a single Albanian temple within the territory of present-day Armenia and in the formerly occupied lands of Azerbaijan has retained its original historical appearance.

Appropriating the historical and cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania to create a false history for oneself is to oppose both the past and the future, undermining the foundations of good-neighborly relations and peaceful coexistence. The continuation of this same policy today and its support by the Armenian leadership is unacceptable. History must be studied, written, and presented as it is. We, the first Christians of this land, decisively reject attempts by Armenians to assimilate our historical and religious-cultural heritage.

Historical reality proves that the historical-political and cultural-religious heritage of Caucasian Albania belongs to the Azerbaijani people and the Azerbaijani state, where different ethnic groups, religions, and faiths have lived in an atmosphere of tolerance for centuries. As a Christian community that preserves its language, religion, and traditions today, we will continue to safeguard the sacred heritage left by our ancestors and persist in our fight against Armenian falsifications.

Today, just as we Udis worship in the churches of Gabala and Oguz, we also freely conduct religious rites and ceremonies in ancient Albanian temples across the liberated territories, including 'Ganjasar', 'Aghoglan', ' Khudavang', 'Amaras', and other sacred sites.

After Azerbaijan restored its independence, a favorable opportunity emerged to eliminate the injustice faced by the Caucasian Albanian Apostolic Church, study its history objectively, and convey it to the international community. Regardless of affiliation, the Azerbaijani government carries out extensive work in restoring and repairing all historical and religious monuments in the country, treating this heritage with special sensitivity. Notably, magnificent monuments belonging to the Albanian heritage, such as the Apostolic Church of St.Elysee in Kish village of the Shaki region, considered the 'mother of churches' in the Caucasus, and the 'Chotari' and ‘Saint Virgin Mary ' churches in Nij settlement of the Gabala region, where Udis live compact communities – have been restored and taken under state protection. The restoration of Albanian monuments is of major importance not only for Azerbaijan, but also for the entire Christian world in terms of rectifying historical injustice and preserving the environment of tolerance in our country. For all this, we once again express our deep gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev.

We declare once more that with the liberation of our lands, historical justice has been restored, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country have been secured, and new realities have been created in the region. Finally, the Armenian side must accept this reality and permanently abandon all steps that hinder the peace process, which is vital for the tranquility of our region and peoples, as well as revanchist propaganda and the distortion of historical truths. We have visited Garabagh many times to perform religious rites and honor the memory of our ancestors resting there, and we plan to visit again in the near future.

May the Almighty Creator be our helper!”