The Georgian Orthodox Church is a major part of Orthodox Christianity in Azerbaijan. Georgian Churches in Azerbaijan are under jurisdiction of Eparchy of Khornabuji and Hereti. [1]
Contents
The Georgian Orthodox Church is a major part of Orthodox Christianity in Azerbaijan. Georgian Churches in Azerbaijan are under jurisdiction of Eparchy of Khornabuji and Hereti. [1]
| Church name | Picture | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Kurmukhi Church (Kürmük məbədi) |  | abandoned |
| Church of Kish (Kiş kilsəsi) |  | abandoned |
| St George's Church, Qakh (Müqəddəs Georgi kilsəsi) |  | active |
| Patara Alaverdi (Allahverdi kilsəsi) |  | active |
| Church of Alibeglo (Müqəddəs Nino kilsəsi) |  | active |
| Kotokli Church (Müqəddəs Üçlük kilsəsi) |  | active |
| Zedzgiti Church (Zəyzid kilsəsi) |  | ruins |
| Lekarti Monastery (Ləkit məbədi) |  | ruins |
| Mamrukhi Church (Mamrux kilsəsi) |  | ruins |
| Bideizi (Bideyiz kilsəsi) |  | ruins |
| Meshebashi (Müqəddəs Mixeyil kilsəsi) |  | abandoned |
| Church of the Mother of God (Qum bazilikası) |  | ruins |
| Katekhi Church (Katex kilsəsi) |  | ruins |
| Seven Church monastery complex (Yeddi Kilsə monastır kompleksi) |  | ruins |
| Dzelitskhoveli (Mazımçay kilsəsi) |  | ruins |
| Bakhtala church |  | ruins |
| Boetani Church | ruins | |
| Vachnadziant Church (Talalar kilsəsi) |  | ruins |
| Church of Zarna (Kilsə qalıqları) |  | ruins |
| Rochahmed Church (Roçəhməd Məbədi) |  | ruins |
Freedom of religions in Georgia is provided for by the country's constitution, laws, and policies. In practice, the Georgian government generally respects religious freedom; however, the Georgian Orthodox Church enjoys a privileged status in terms of legal and tax matters, involvement in public schools, and property disputes. There have been efforts by private citizens, local government officials, and local Georgian Orthodox Church leaders to harass and persecute members of minority religious groups and interfere with their worship activities; despite calls for tolerance and respect for pluralism by government leaders, the Georgian central government has not been successful in preventing such incidents.
The Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia, commonly known as the Georgian Orthodox Church or the Orthodox Church of Georgia, is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in full communion with the other churches of Eastern Orthodoxy. It is Georgia's dominant religious institution, and a majority of Georgian people are members. The Orthodox Church of Georgia is one of the oldest churches in the world. It asserts apostolic foundation, and its historical roots must be traced to the early and late Christianization of Iberia and Colchis by Saint Andrew in the 1st century AD and by Saint Nino in the 4th century AD, respectively. As in similar autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, the church's highest governing body is the holy synod of bishops. The church is headed by the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, currently Ilia II, who was elected in 1977.
Saint NinaEqual to the Apostles and the Enlightener of Georgia was a woman who preached Christianity in the territory of Caucasian Iberia, of what is now part of Georgia. It resulted in the Christianization of the royal house of Iberia, with the consequent Christianization of Iberia.
The Catholic Church in Georgia, since the 11th-century East–West Schism, has been composed mainly of Latin-Rite Catholics; Catholic communities of the Armenian Rite have existed in the country since the 18th century.
The main religion in Azerbaijan is Islam, though Azerbaijan is the most secular country in the Muslim world. Estimates include 96.9% and 99.2% of the population identifying as Muslim. Most are adherents of Shia Islam, with a minority (15%) being Sunni, differences traditionally have not been defined sharply. Most Shi'a are adherents of orthodox Ithna Ashari school of Shi'a Islam. Following many decades of Soviet atheist policy, religious affiliation is nominal in Azerbaijan and Muslim identity tends to be based more on culture and ethnicity than religion. Traditionally villages around Baku and Lenkoran region are considered stronghold of Shi'ism. In some northern regions, populated by Dagestani (Lezgian) people, Sunni Islam is dominant. Folk Islam is widely practiced but there is little evidence of an organized Sufi movement.
The Udis are a native people of the Caucasus. Currently, they live in Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and many other countries. The total number is about 10,000 people. They speak the Udi language. Some also speak Azerbaijani, Russian, Georgian and Armenian languages depending on where they reside. Their religion is Christianity.
As of 2011, most Armenians are Christians (97%) and are members of Armenia's own church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, which is one of the oldest Christian churches. It was founded in the 1st century AD, and in 301 AD became the first branch of Christianity to become a state religion.
Christianity in Azerbaijan is a minority religion. Christians who estimated between 280,000 and 450,000 (3.1%-4.8%) are mostly Russian and Georgian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic. There is also a small Protestant Christian community which mostly came from Muslim backgrounds.
The Church of Kish, also known from different sources as Church of Saint Elishe or Holy Mother of God Church, is a Georgian Orthodox church, probably dating to the early 12th century, inactive due to lack of parishioners since the 19th century, although -as of 2000- mass was still regularly held by a Georgian priest. It is located in the village of Kiş approximately 5 km north of Shaki, Azerbaijan. Archaeological research undertaken in 2000 concluded that it was first built as a diophysite Georgian church, later to become a Chalcedonian church. Previous research had proposed that it had functioned at different times as a Caucasian Albanian Apostolic church, a Chalcedonian church within the Georgian Orthodox Church, and later as an Armenian Apostolic Church.
The wide variety of peoples inhabiting Georgia has meant a correspondingly rich array of active religions in the country. Today most of the population in Georgia practices Orthodox Christianity, primarily in the Georgian Orthodox Church, whose faithful make up 83.4% of the population. Around 1% belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, while about 3.9% of the population follow the Armenian Apostolic Church, almost all of which are ethnic Armenians. Adherents of Islam make up 10.7% of the population and are mainly found in the Adjara and Kvemo Kartli regions and as a sizeable minority in Tbilisi. Catholics of the Armenian and Latin churches make up around 0.8% of the population and are mainly found in the south of Georgia and a small number in Tbilisi. There is also a sizeable Jewish community in Tbilisi served by two synagogues.
Today 84% of the population in Georgia practices Orthodox Christianity, primarily the Georgian Orthodox Church. Of these, around 2% follow the Russian Orthodox Church, around 5.9% follow the Armenian Apostolic Church and 0.8% are Catholics and are mainly found in the south of Georgia but with a small number in its capital, Tbilisi.
Kiş is a village and municipality in the Shaki Rayon of Azerbaijan. It is located approximately 5 km north of Shaki. It has a population of 6,244.
The Church of Albania or the Albania Apostolic Church was an ancient, briefly autocephalous church established in the 5th century. In 705, It fell under the religious jurisdiction of the Armenian Apostolic Church as the Catholicosate of Aghvank centered in Caucasian Albania, a region spanning present-day northern Azerbaijan and southern Dagestan.
Christianity is a main religion in Abkhazia. The history of introduction of Christianity in the present-day Abkhazia can be traced to the 1st century and in 325 the bishop of Pityus participated in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. Since the late 9th century, the Orthodox dioceses of Abkhazia were subordinated to the Georgian Orthodox Church, later functioning there as the Catholicosate of Abkhazia.
Diocese of Baku and Azerbaijan is a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in Azerbaijan. Majority of its members are ethnic Russians of Azerbaijan. Entire territory of Azerbaijan is under ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Eparchy of Baku and Azerbaijan, centered in the Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral in Baku. The Church of Michael Archangel also exist in Baku.
he Georgian Orthodox Church is a major part of Orthodox Christianity in Turkey. Georgian churches in Turkey, namely in Artvin, Ardahan, Kars and Erzrum Province are under jurisdiction of Batumi and Lazeti, Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti and Akhalkalaki, Kumurdo and Kars eparchies.
Ingiloys are an ethnographic subgroup of Georgians who speak Ingiloy dialect of Georgian language. Ingiloys are indigenous population of Saingilo, cultural and historical region in northwestern Azerbaijan.
Eastern Orthodoxy in Azerbaijan is the main Christian and the second largest religious group in the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to statistics, the Eastern Orthodox, or Byzantine tradition in Azerbaijan is 2.3%. The territory of Azerbaijan is in the jurisdiction of the Baku-Azerbaijan Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
St. Nino Church of Alibeglo is a Georgian Orthodox Church located in Qakh District, northwestern Azerbaijan, on the border with Georgia. The last time it was renovated by the local community was in the period of the reintroduction of Christianity in Hereti (Saingilo), between 1850-1855. The church is of kuppelhalle type with a projecting apse and an elongated west arm. The church has a bell-tower to its west.
Society for the Restoration of Orthodox Christianity in the Caucasus — The Society for the Restoration of Orthodox Christianity throughout the Caucasus was founded to spread Christianity to the region after it was completely conquered by Tsarist Russia in the 19th century
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church buildings of the Georgian Orthodox Church in Azerbaijan . |