The false 'archimandrite' of the Azerbaijani propaganda

2025-09-04

The Moscow-based journal Theology: Theory and Practice («Теология: теория и практика») publishes the articles of “candidate of theology,” Archimandrite Alexy Nikonorov, which contain distortions of historical facts, falsifications, and Azerbaijani official propaganda theses. Through his publications, he contributes to the Albanization and Azerbaijanization of Armenian Christian heritage, presenting it as “Caucasian Albanian” or “Azerbaijani.” Such substitution aims to alienate Armenian spiritual and cultural traditions and to distort historical memory. These publications not only contradict the principles of scholarly objectivity but also harm inter-church brotherly relations, as well as the friendly ties between the Armenian and Russian peoples.

This is a deliberate falsification of the truth, incompatible with Christian service, and undermines trust between Christian peoples and churches.

• In the article “A Brief Outline of the Most Important Orthodox Architectural Monuments of Azerbaijan” (2022, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 17–35, DOI: 10.24412/2949-3951-2022-0090), Archimandrite Alexy Nikonorov writes that “the historical lands of Azerbaijan” existed before 1918. However, historiography testifies to the opposite: until 1918, no Azerbaijani state existed, nor was there the ethnonym “Azerbaijani” or a people by that name.
• In the article “Topographic Map from the Collection of L.F. Marsigli as a Source on the History of the Caucasian Albanian Church in the 17th Century” (2025, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 84–92, DOI: 10.24412/2949-3951-2025-0120), the author refers to the Armenian cities of Yerevan, Nakhijevan, and Jugha as “Azerbaijani,” relying not on sources but on Azerbaijani political rhetoric.
• In the same article, A. Nikonorov arbitrarily uses the Azerbaijani-influenced form “Gyanjasar” for the Catholicosate of Gandzasar, which is a crude distortion of historical reality and ecclesiastical tradition. This is part of the Azerbaijani strategy of Albanization of Armenian heritage.
• In a number of publications, Nikonorov misleads readers by calling the Armenian Apostolic Church “Monophysite” (2025, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 84–85), whereas it is well known that Monophysitism is a heresy and the Armenian Church has no connection with it.

In his publications and biography, Nikonorov presents himself as a “Doctor of Church History,” although an official letter from the Pontifical Oriental Institute dated May 15, 2025, confirms that no such title was conferred upon him. This misleads editors and the academic community.

The Geghard Scientific-Analytical Foundation
• demands the removal of Nikonorov’s publications,
• calls on the editors to provide clarifications based on factual and primary sources,
• appeals to the Russian Orthodox Church, requesting that this issue be discussed and an assessment be given of Archimandrite Alexy’s (A.V. Nikonorov) aforementioned actions, since they undermine the warm relations between the Armenian and Russian Churches and discredit the title of clergyman.

Otherwise, the Foundation reserves the right to appeal to academic and ecclesiastical governing bodies in order to protect the historical and cultural heritage of the Armenian people and to restore historical truth.

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