Akademik Məlumat İdarəetmə Sistemi
Ethnocultural Heritage of Caucasian Albania (Collection of Articles) , vol.12, no.5, pp.181-190, 2025 (Conference Book)
The current article is dedicated to the Aghoghlan Temple, one of the magnificent examples of
early Christianity in Caucasian Albania, located in the Kosalar village of the Lachin district, which was subjected
to 28 years of Armenian occupation. The study focuses on the temple's condition before and during the war,
and its current state. The study highlights the distortion of the Agoghlan Temple's name, particularly the illegal
archaeological excavations and repair work conducted by Armenian falsifiers during 1999-2000, which led to
changes in the complex's architectural style and interior. It also documents the act of Armenian vandalism,
including the destruction, alteration, and theft of inscriptions, Albanian symbols on the monument's walls and
tombstones. Additionally, the article includes the results of ethnographic field research we conducted in 2021-
2023 with the residents of the Lachin district and Kosalar village, who were forced to leave these lands due to
the Armenian armed forces' occupation since 1992. Based on the ethnographic survey conducted among the
villagers, information was gathered about the rituals, ceremonies, and folk beliefs preserved in the memory of
the local population, who continue to refer to this ancient Albanian shrine as a sacred site to this day. Additionally,
details about the appearance of the monastery complex before the occupation, as well as the ancient stones
that existed there, were also collected. Based on this information, a comparative analysis of the monastery's
interior before the illegal restoration work and its current state was conducted, highlighting the illegal restoration
activities carried out by Armenian nationalists in the Aghoghlan Monastery. The study also examines acts of
theft, forgery, and vandalism related to ancient stelae and inscriptions from the monastery area. Additionally, the
article explores traces of pre-Christian beliefs in the Aghoghlan Temple, elements of pagan worship, ancient cult
symbols, and the connection between the temple and Gregory the Enlightener, who propagated Christianity in
Caucasian Albania in the 4th century, and his successor, Saint Grigoris, based on existing historical-ethnographic
and archaeological materials.