The Albanian church in Dashkesan fell into a deplorable state because of Armenians who sought to armenize it. This monument dating back to the fifth century is under threat of destruction because of its ownerless status. The reason for such condition of the monument is that Armenians attempted to armenize the Albanian church. Later, the local population tried to destroy the church because they considered it to be an Armenian one. In order to create an acoustic effect, empty vessels were built into the walls of the church at the time of its construction. Those who believed that the vessels were filled with gold stooped to destroying the walls and dug all over the surrounding area.453
That comes to say that as long as Armenians lived in Dashkesan, and the church was considered (and in fact is, author’s note) Armenian, it was heartlessly exposed to sack and pillage. In line with its new Albanization policy of the Christian heritage on the territory of Azerbaijan, the church was declared Albanian, and its destruction condemned with perpetrators readily found: Armenians.
The importance and the role of Armenians in shaping the historical architectural look of Baku in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries – as the economic growth propelled the city through an urban development boom – are now passed over in silence. In many ways, the architectural look of Baku was formed thanks to the active and effective involvement of St. Petersburg-educated Armenian architects and builders. The architects below made an especially significant contribution into the construction of Baku: G. Ter-Mikayelyan, V. Sargsyan (Sarkisov), N. Bayev, H. Ter-Hovhannisyan (Qajaznuni), F. Aghalyan, A. Kandinyan, M. Ter-Grigoryants. The Armenian architects gave an overhaul to the new style stemming from Russia and created in Baku some distinctive specimens of architecture and construction.454
One of the founders of Baku architectural style is Gabriel Ter-Mikayelyan, who was the author of public buildings erected in the early twentieth century. Ter-Mikayelyan drafted the facade of the main building of the city magistrate. He designed (1910–1912) the building of the Center for Public Gatherings (now the Philharmonic Hall of Azerbaijan), the maternity hospital (1899), the building of the Baku branch of the Commercial Bank of Tiflis (1902–1903) which presently houses the shop “Detskiy Mir” and the College of Commerce (1905–1910). An important aspect of Ter-Mikayelyan’s work was the construction of churches.
Another major contribution to the architecture and urban development of Baku in the early twentieth century was made by N. Bayev. In 1911–1918, he was the chief architect of Baku. In 1913, he designed the building of Mailyan Brothers Theater (now the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater), a hospital complex (19 infirmaries and 24 buildings), several schools, a grammar school, residential buildings of Salimanov, Sheremetyev and others, Sabunchi railway station (1927), surgical hospital after Semashko, the Armenikend district and others.
The Armenian architect V. Sargsyan designed over 10 buildings in the oil industry city of Baku. F. Agalyan designed the buildings of the grammar school, the maternity hospital, the treasury, the Workers House and many others. A number of buildings were also designed by H. Qajaznuni, M. Ter-Grigoryants and many others. The buildings designed by Armenian architects, still beautify Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan.
Incomplete list of destroyed Armenian historical monuments on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan:
The Church of St. John of the 17th century (or St. Holy Mother, Surb Astvatsatsin) in the village of Azat (Suluk), Khanlar region of Northern Karabakh, was dynamited, but withstood due to its solid structure.455
The Church of the Holy Savior of the 17th century in the village of Kamo, Khanlar region of Northern Karabakh, desperately needed restoration as its roof had almost completely sloped down, and only the altar stayed intact under the roof. After occupying the church in 1989 and banishing the last Armenian residents in 1990, the Azerbaijanis blew up the church, and now only a few stones indicate the place, where once was the altar.456
Chapel and church on the nearby hill in the village of Metsshen, not far from Berdzor (Lachin), Shushi region. After the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani forces from Shushi during the Karabakh war, the chapel was revealed to be blown up, and its territory to be partially cleared up, with only a few stones indicating the place where once the chapel stood. As for the church, it withstood due to its solid structure and quality building mortar, despite the attempts to destroy it.457
Armenian church of St. John (Hovhannes) in the city of Ganja (Gandzak) The church dates back to 1633. It was renovated in 1860 evidenced by a memorial plaque above the entrance. While the church operated up to the 1990s, after the end of hostilities, the Azerbaijani authorities decided to transform the church into a concert hall. To hide the Armenian origin of the building, all Armenian inscriptions on the walls and inside and outside the church were erased or shaded.458
Amaras Monastery, Martuni Region of Artsakh Under Azerbaijan’s control, this monastery dating back to the 4th century and located near the village of Machkalashen was neglected and doomed to slow disintegration. It was restored only after the local Armenians established control over the territory. The withdrawing Azerbaijani troops desecrated and broke to pieces the most significant tombstone in the monastery – the tombstone of St. Grigoris, the founder and the first Catholicos (patriarch) of the Church of Caucasian Albania. Some original pieces have been lost, but the headstone was beyond restoration and, therefore, was replaced by a copy. This is yet another illustrative example of how the people who consider themselves descendants and successors of Albanians destroy the heritage of Caucasian Albania of which they claim ownership.459
The St. Gevorg Church in the village of Dashbulag formerly populated by Armenians (until 1918) was turned into a cattle-shed and presented as an “Albanian” church. The church was built in 1828, and a record on its construction work survived. The work Land of Aluank and the Neighbors published in 1893 by Bishop Makar Barkhudaryants also contains a reference to this church. “Those misled into thinking that this is an Albanian church must understand that it simply could not be Albanian as Albanians had disappeared from the international arena 1000 years ago and therefore, could not by any means build a church 1000 years later”, writes Samvel Karapetyan, the head of the Research on Armenian Architecture NGO.460
Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Lusavorich) Armenian Cathedral in Baku was built in the Parapet Square in 1869–1871. In 1873, a parish school, library and housing for the Diocesan church superiors were built on the premises of the cathedral. In 1888, bells were hoisted on the cathedral. Later, the building for the Armenian Humanitarian Society was constructed nearby to include the library. Up to 1989, the St. Gregory the Illuminator was the only Armenian church to function in Baku. Today, the cross is removed, and the building of the church is used as a book depository.461
Virgin Mary Church of late 19th century in the Icheri Sheher district in Baku The church was located to the left of the Maiden Tower. It was demolished in the 1990s. According to various sources, the church was built in 1797–1799 after Russian troops captured the city (and was renovated later). Some data also suggest that the church was founded on the place of an ancient pagan temple of Zoroastrians. This territory was a cult destination, and therefore, representatives of all religions sought to found their holy places there. In 1984, the foundation of the church developed cracks and an emergency condition. The church was pulled down during the Karabakh conflict.