Albanian-Udi community condemns Armenian reaction to diplomats'visit to Karabakh
Albanian-Udi community condemns Armenian reaction to diplomatschr("39")visit to Karabakh
The Albanian-Udi Christian Religious Community of Azerbaijan has adopted a statement regarding the reaction in Armenia to the visit by representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan to Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, particularly to the Ganjasar and Khudavang monasteries, which the Community identifies as part of Albanian historical and cultural heritage.
According to Olaylar, the statement reads:
"We, members of the Albanian-Udi Christian Religious Community, the successor to the Albanian (Caucasian) Apostolic Independent Church, strongly condemn the revanchist reaction in Armenian society and political circles to the visit by representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan to Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, particularly to the Ganjasar and Khudavang monasteries, which belong to Albanian historical and cultural heritage.
"We believe that the Armenian side, including Armenian lobbying circles that have still not abandoned war propaganda, as well as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who claims to be committed to the peace agenda, and other senior officials, by presenting historical Azerbaijani monuments such as Ganjasar and Khudavang as Armenian heritage, are not only denying and falsifying historical truths but are also threatening the fragile peace process taking shape in the region. The deliberate campaign in Armenia against the visit by representatives of the diplomatic corps shows that political and religious circles in that country are not sincere in their desire for peace and remain intolerant of Azerbaijanchr("39")s legitimate rights.
"We declare that Caucasian Albania is an integral part of Azerbaijani statehood and that Armeniachr("39")s policy of denying the historical and cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania is unacceptable. Such provocative activity by Armenia is a manifestation of false national exceptionalism and fabricated history, and constitutes an element of racism. Such an intolerant and hostile attitude toward Caucasian Albania, particularly its religious and cultural heritage, clearly shows that Armenia is afraid of the truth.
"The Albanian Church, as the first apostolic church of the Caucasus, has passed through a long historical journey and left an indelible mark on the religious and cultural life not only of Azerbaijan but of the entire Caucasus. All attacks on a heritage that created a great culture and had its own alphabet will fail. Facts cannot be denied. History shows that in 313, Albanian King Urnayr adopted 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 changed or falsified? It is an undeniable truth that the Ganjasar monastery was built in 1216-1238 on the instructions of Albanian Prince Hasan Jalal Dovla and received the blessing of Albanian Patriarch Nerses in 1240. The importance of Ganjasar and its special value to us lie in the fact that it served as the residence of the Albanian Catholicosate. Princes and clergy from Hasan Jalalchr("39")s dynasty, including Hasan Jalal Allahverdi bey, were buried on the monastery grounds.
"Unfortunately, following various pressures and influences, a decision by the Tsarist Synod ended the activities of the Albanian Apostolic Church in 1836, and the Armenian Gregorian Church attempted to take possession of part of its material and spiritual heritage. As a result, historical Albanian churches in Azerbaijan, particularly in Karabakh, were subjected to Gregorianization, while archival materials and documents, along with our historical monuments, were either destroyed or falsified. Attempts to Armenianize and appropriate, through countless falsifications, the historical and cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania, which is an integral part of Azerbaijani statehood, have become a state policy of Armenia over the past hundred years. As a result, not a single Albanian church on the territory of present-day Armenia or in the territories of Azerbaijan that were once under occupation has retained its historical appearance unchanged.
"Appropriating the historical and cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania and using it to create a fabricated history means opposing both the past and the future and undermining the foundations of good-neighborly relations and peaceful coexistence. The continuation of the same policy today and its support by the Armenian leadership are unacceptable. History must be studied, written and presented as it is. We, the first Christians of this land, firmly reject attempts by Armenians to appropriate our historical, religious and cultural heritage.
"Historical reality proves that the historical-political and cultural-religious heritage of Caucasian Albania belongs today to the Azerbaijani state and the people of Azerbaijan, where different ethnic groups, religions and faiths have lived for centuries in an atmosphere of tolerance. As a Christian community that preserves its language, religion, customs and traditions, we will continue to protect the sacred heritage left to us by our ancestors and continue our struggle against Armenian falsification.
"Today, just as we Udis worship in churches in Gabala and Oghuz, we also freely conduct religious rites and ceremonies at ancient Albanian churches in the territories liberated from occupation, including Ganjasar, Aghoghlan, Khudavang, Amaras and other sacred sites.
"After Azerbaijan restored its independence, favorable conditions emerged for addressing the injustice faced by the Albanian Apostolic Church, objectively studying its history and bringing it to the attention of the international community. The Azerbaijani government is carrying out extensive work to restore and repair all historical and religious monuments in the country regardless of their affiliation and treats this heritage with particular sensitivity. Magnificent monuments belonging to Albanian heritage have also been restored and placed under state protection, including the Church of Apostle Yelisey in the village of Kish in the Shaki district, regarded as the chr("39")mother of churcheschr("39") in the Caucasus, as well as the Chotari and Mother Mary churches in the settlement of Nij in the Gabala district, where Udis live compactly. The restoration of Albanian monuments is of great importance not only for Azerbaijan but also for the entire Christian world in terms of correcting historical injustice and preserving the atmosphere of tolerance in our country. For all of this, we once again express our deep gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
"We once again declare that with the liberation of our lands from occupation, historical justice was restored, our countrychr("39")s territorial integrity and sovereignty were ensured, and new realities emerged in the region. The Armenian side must finally accept this reality and once and for all abandon all steps that obstruct the peace process, which is vitally important for the well-being of our region and peoples, as well as revanchist propaganda and the distortion of historical truths. We have repeatedly visited Karabakh, performed religious rites there and commemorated the spirits of our ancestors resting there, and we plan to visit again in the near future."