Church in Dash Salakhli settlement of Kazakh region of Azerbaijan
      

       Early and middleaged architecture of Caucasian Albania presented by some churches of “free cross” type. By its common character of composition, at the same time they differ by features of planning and spatial determination. The most evident examples of this type - church in Kabizdar settlement (Zakatal region of Azerbaijan), in Orta Zeizit settlement (Sheki region of Azerbaijan) and church on the mountain between villages Alput and Dash Salakhali of Kazakh region of Azerbaijan.

      
General view of church in settlement                           Frontal view of church in settlement 
Dash Salakhli                                                                               Dash Salakhli

The rear view of church in settlement Dash Salakhli Side view of church in settlement Dash Salakhli Later built - in plate

Third of mentioned above churches, owned to its location, rules over surrounding territory. It is interesting because of its composition, as it consists of two churches (north and south), which have common wall. Besides, near with basic location of churches there is a small chapel.        North church-right angled in plan of hall, blocked by half cylindrical arch. Praying hall has square form, altar apsida- half compasses in plan (1, pic. 214).       South, cupola church, with sizes 4, 90x5, 80 m., has right angled outside and cross formed inside plan. The most long, eastern arm of cross has half rounded determination, the rest short arms - right angled.

Oval in plan cupola props up rectangle (2, 7 x 2, 2 m), formed by half compasses arches        Although internal composition of southen church’s plan reminds mentioned above churches in Kabizdar and Orta Zeyzit, however, according to external mass it is more related with cupola halls.

The Albanian cross The Albanian cross - 2

Both churches rise on two steps socle and elevate, most probably consequently. It is known from not coincided by height ranges of laying and joints on eastern wall. Complex is dated X-XI c (2, pic 79). Memory about it is in work of historian V. Bartsaberdtsi connects it with fortress Gag, about which has an information Kirakos Gandzakskiy (3, pic 157). Ruins of serf walls to the south from construction, possibly are remains of this albanian fortress.

Unfortunately, at present time this monument, as many others unique ones of albanian architecture, are in zone of military actions. As a result of it there are a lot of damages on facades of churches. It is true that these destroyments seem to be trifling in comparison with reconstructions made in 70-80s from the side of armenian scientists with a purpose of falsification of historical belonging of the monument, in result of which church “acquired” alien to it element - a stone with armenian writing, never existed here before.

1. Akhundov D. A. Architecture of ancient and early and middle aged Azerbaijan - Baku, Azerbaijan State Publishing House, 1986. 2. Mamedova G.G. Culted Architecture of Caucasian Albania - Baku, “Elm”, 1997. 3. Kirakos Gandzaketsi. History (trans. by Ter-Grigoryan) - Baku, Publishing of Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences., 1946.

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