Kish, one of the oldest of Azerbaijani villages, well known for the ancient Caucasian Albanian temple. This antique temple has a special status among Christian Albanian monuments. It is valuable not only as an architectural monument but also because of its outstanding historical significance. The official date of its birth is the 1st century AD when the territory of current day Azerbaijan was included into Caucasian part of Albania. This ancient monument is the oldest church in the Caucasus funded by disciples of the Apostle Bartholomew who brought Christianity to Caucasian Albania, to Azerbaijan.

For centuries, the church functioned as a spiritual center and place for enlightenment for people of the region.

This temple attracted famous Norwegian explorer and scientist Thor Heyerdahl in 2000. Study, restoration and conversion of the ancient church started the same year and finalized in 2003 jointly by joint efforts of Norway and Azerbaijan. Nowadays, the church is functioning as a museum.

The restoration of the Caucasian Albanian Church is a symbol of respect and tolerance for other religions in Azerbaijan, as well as evidence of preservation of the country’s religious and historical heritage.

The excavation works here found interesting artefacts, including ceramics and bronze and gold ornaments, but they also discovered other evidence, including graves, showing that, the location was used as a religious center for centuries.

Researchers show that Kish church can be considered as one of the cradles of Christianity and embodies this country’s ancient history and rich cultural heritage through the centuries.

The church has survived different period and various religious states to show its glory to modern people. It is the best place to learn about the mysterious Caucasian Albania.