Robert Mobili: The transfer of the Albanian-Udi church to the Armenian one has distanced people from worship services

The Albanian-Udi church was once placed under the subordination of the Armenian Church, and this led to people distancing themselves from worship services even in their own native temples.

Robert Mobili, chairman of the Albanian-Udi Christian Religious Community, told Report.

"When our church was placed under the subordination of the Armenian Church, the situation developed in such a way that we distanced ourselves from worship services even in our own native temple. After Azerbaijan gained independence, we showed the world that the Albanian Church is not connected to the Armenian Church. We had our own language and religious books. The Albanian Church possesses a rich heritage," he said.

He recalled that the community had previously issued a statement condemning Armenia's attempts to appropriate the Christian monuments and historical heritage of Caucasian Albania. He considers the falsification of this heritage to include altering the architectural appearance of temples, replacing doors, and placing symbols and crosses that are not characteristic of the Albanian Church.

"If we recognize the Albanian king Javanshir, we must also recognize that he built churches. Albanian temples are significant for researchers and tourists. This is our historical land. We lived here," he said.

The chairman of the community also emphasized that Azerbaijan is taking measures to preserve the Albanian heritage, including the restoration of temples. As examples of restored monuments, Mobili cited the temple in the village of Kish and the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary.

According to him, restoration work is also continuing in Karabakh. "President Ilham Aliyev also spoke about this in his speeches and noted that the Armenians must leave there once and for all," he said.

Mobili called the restoration of the Albanian Apostolic Church in Azerbaijan the most effective way to counter attempts to falsify its heritage.

"The church must have its own clergy and a community that will preserve this heritage. No Christian country should encroach on our heritage," he said.

Among the main tasks, he also named the restoration of temples, training of clergy, and attracting tourists.

The head of the community noted that his appeal is addressed primarily to the Armenian Church, and he spoke out against the politicization of the issue. "We must make this heritage close to us," he said, speaking about passing it on to future generations.

Earlier, the Albanian-Udi Christian Religious Community condemned the reaction in Armenia to the trip by diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan to Karabakh and East Zangezur, particularly to the Ganjasar and Khudavang temples. In the statement, the community rejected the portrayal of these monuments as Armenian heritage and expressed the opinion that the campaign against the diplomats' visit could harm the peace process in the region.