Church of Blessed Virgin Mary of Bulun (Udi: Ĭvĕl Mariyami Nanay Bulun Gergeś) or simply Bulun Church is a 19th-century church located in Nij, Azerbaijan. Locals call it simply Bulun Church to distinguish the church located in the upper (Armenian: Վերին, romanized: verin, Udi: bulun, lit. 'upper') quarter of the village from the Tsilin Church in the lower (Armenian: Ներքին, romanized: nerkin, Udi: s'ilin, lit. 'lower') quarter of the village. It was founded as an Armenian church and named Church of the Mother of God (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստվածածին եկեղեցի, lit. 'Surp Astvatsatsin yekeghets'i').
| Bulun Church | |
|---|---|
Ĭvĕl Mariyami Nanay Bulun Gergeś | |
 | |
  Bulun Church | |
| 40°56′23″N 47°39′50″E / 40.93972°N 47.66389°E | |
| Country |  Azerbaijan |
| Previous denomination | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Church of the Mother of God |
| Dedication | St. Mary |
| Consecrated | 1892 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Renovated |
| Groundbreaking | 1890 |
| Completed | 1892 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 25.73 meter |
| Width | 13.74 meter |
History
editThe largest and only domed church in the village, it was founded in 1890, the building measures 25.73 by 13.74 meters. Constructed of bricks, it features two entrances on the western and southern facades, an octahedral drum, and double-storied vestries according to Samvel Karapetyan.[1] It was probably finished in 1892.[2] A repair work was planned in 1917, but was not commenced. It was appropriated by the Soviet authorities on 30 December 1928[1] and was used as a warehouse.[3]
Current use
editIt was renovated by Heydar Aliyev Foundation in 2020 and opened to public.[3] However, some elements were added and removed during the renovation process. One of the additions was a separate bell tower next to church. An inscription on the entrance was visible until 2020 and but was covered during the renovation process.
Although officially not a part of any established church, by agreement with the leadership of the Udi community, clergy of the Baku Eparchy celebrate the Divine Liturgy several times a year in the church.[4]
| Before 2020 | After 2020 | Original text | Translation |
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N/A | N/A |
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Ի 1890 Թ(ՎԻ)Ն ՍԿՍՈՒԵՑ ԱՅՍ ՆԻԺ ԳԻՒՂԻ ՎԵՐԻՆ ԹԱՂԻՍԱ(ՍՏՈՒԱ)ԾԱԾԻՆ ԵԿԵՂԵՑՒՈՑ ՇԻՆՈՒԹԻՒՆԸ ԱՍԱՐԱԿՈՒԹՅԱՆ ԾԱԽՔՈՎ ԱՒ(ԱՐ)Տ 189. Թ. | In the year 1890 the construction of Surp Astvatzatzin Church of Nij Village commenced with the local people's means. 189-[1] |
References
edit- ^ a b c Karapetyan, Samvel. "A brief historical introduction on Nizh village". Research on Armenian Architecture. Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ "Qəbələ rayonun Nic kəndində yerləşən Müqəddəs Məryəm Ana "Bulun" kilsəsində ilk İlahi liturqiya keçirilib" [The first divine liturgy was held in the Church of St. Mary Mother "Bulun" located in Nic village of Gabala district]. az.pravoslavie.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ a b "İlham Əliyev Qəbələnin Nic qəsəbəsindəki Müqəddəs Məryəm Ana Alban kilsəsində olub » Azərbaycan Prezidentinin Rəsmi internet səhifəsi" [Ilham Aliyev visited Albanian Church of Blessed Virgin Mary in Nij settlement, Gabala]. president.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ "Божественная литургия в удинском храме селения Нидж" [Divine Liturgy in the Udi Church in the village of Nij]. pravoslavie.az (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-06-08.