Armenian historical settlements of Shaki․ Kish

The village of Kish was one of the historical Armenian settlements in the Shaki region. It is located 5 km north of the city of Shaki. The Armenian population of the village, in the mid-18th century, yielded to the religious persecutions of Haji Chalabi Khan of Shaki and converted to Islam.

However, in the late 19th century, some distorted Armenian names and surnames were preserved among the inhabitants of Kish, such as "Sargis ogli, Karapet ogli, Avanes ogli, etc.

The domed Church of Saint Yeghishe the Apostle, built in 1244, stands in the village of Kish. The church has survived thanks to being declared an "Udi" church by the Azerbaijanis. In 2003, it was transformed into a museum, where archaeological materials excavated on site are exhibited.

Monumentalist Samvel Karapetyan has published the sole surviving inscription found inside the church's surrounding wall.

"17 gaz (a unit of measurement) of this wall was built at the expense of the Mkrtich Msiryants from Nukhi in memory of himself and his parents. July 1865."

In 2000, the famous Norwegian traveler, ethnographer, and writer Thor Heyerdahl visited Kish. His bust stands in front of the church. Nowardays, the village preserves the name Kish and is inhabited by Azerbaijanis.

Bibliography

Barkhutaryants M., Land of Aghvank and its Neighbors: Artsakh, Yerevan, 1999.

Karapetyan S., The Armenian Lapidary Inscriptions of Aghvank Proper, Yerevan, 1997.

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