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     Whilst travelling through Gabala in the north of Azerbaijan I took the time to experience a small part but significant part of the religious tolerance within the country. Religion is 100 per cent removed from the state here and freedom of religion is something you feel brings pride and togetherness.

   The village of Kish where the church of St.Elysee is located, is situated several kilometres away from Sheki and closely related with this ancient Azerbaijanian town, its history and culture.

  Under the Albanian period in the history of Daghestan I mean the 1-4 centuries A.D. which are different from Daghestan archaeology-accepted chronological limits of the period  under consideration – 3 century B.C. – 4 century A.D. Going into no details to corroborate my assumption, I’d rather note that it was in the 1-4 centure A.D. that a part of the territory of the present-day Daghestan formed the then Caucasian Albania.

   Uti is one of the oldest tribes on the territory of Azerbaijan, as referred to  in ancient sources, including a work by Albanian historian Moses Kalankatuyskiy, works by early medieval Armenian authors, Arab geographers.

   In 1996, in the monastery of St. Catherine on Mt. Sinai were found Georgian manuscripts with the Albanian text (N/Sin-13, N/Sin-50) on the lower layer. The Albanian text represents a Lectionary that is a basic part of the Holy liturgy. Lectionary is a collection of the Liturgical Lessons read throughout a year and it mainly consists of the readings from the Old and New Testaments.

   The first state formation on the territory of North Azerbaijan it was Caucasian Albania. The emergence of this state was a result of century – old social and economic development of country. Other factors influenced on this process.

     Azerbaijan is fairly referred to as a country abound in peculiar museum exhibits. Indeed, there is hardly a region worldover to preserve such a great quantity of the works of art and material culture (1, p.5).Over the long period of time, Azerbaijan has been reputed as an exclusively Muslim country with monuments of that period, strewn about various parts of the region. However, one cannot forget that Islam took root here just in the 8-9 centuries,while in the preceeding periods there consecutively, in close interaction developed Mazdaizm,

          The formation of the nation is a complex and many – sided process. To explore it, joint efforts of not only historians, ethnographers, archaeologists, linguists but anthropologists are required  as well. The role of anthropology in the exploration of ethnogenesis is accounted for by the fact that the history of nation formation, to a marked degree, finds its parallels in anthropological peculiarities.

         The article deals with the review of scientific conceptions and mythological origin of four-columned architecture. Researchers share two points of view. The first considers the formation of cross-domical architecture as an evolutionary process that took place in Byzantine on the basis of “domical basilica”. The second maintains that cross-domical temples arose as a result of the reconstruction of centric structures of “free” and “inserted” cross type.

       Azerbaijan is a country characterized by the richest architectural and artistic heritage, located at the crossroad of major trade routes from Asia to Europe. Lands of fertile area between two rivers of Kura and Arax and sacred fires of Absheron peninsula were places where throughout millenniums there sprang up and spread life and culture, architecture and art. (1)

     There is every reason to believe that both in ancient period and early Middle Ages the territory of Albania was located within one and the same bounds. In the north, the territory of Albania stretched out to Derbent, to Sulak, in the south — to Arax, from Iberia in the west to the Caspian Sea in the east. According to synchronous sources of the 7-8 centuries, for instance, Albanian author Movses Kalankatuyskiy and Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi, the southern border of Albania in the 1 century A.D. passed along the river of Arax. The Albanian historian points out that the borders of Albania remained unaltered till 7-8 centuries.

    The state of Caucasian Albania which sprang up as a result of the dissolution of Ahemenid and subsequently Alexander the Great Empire (1), was, in the period under consideration, actively involved in the political struggle in Front Asia and South Caucasus.

   Following the disintegration of Albanian Kingdom, Albans partly survived in Karabakh – Artsakh where they revived their own Albanian – Khachen kingdom. Direct heirs of Albanian Mihranides representatives of Hasan–Jalal ruled here over the period 12 to 15 centuries. In the 15 century Hasan–Jalal dynasty was conferred the title of “melik” from Jahanshah head of Karakoyunlu state. Note that the title applied to daughter’s line of Jalal family. In turn, the family broke down info five daughter’s lines feudal.

    1. In 1975, F.Gignoux published a collection of Sasanid intaglios of Mr. M.A.Piruzan. the collection included a unique king`s (shah`s) gem with a monogram (neshan) in the centre and a circular middle Persian inscription. The author interpred the reading of the inscription, performed in a traditional dossier and lapidary style as follows: `hyphyny ZY `Ld`n MLK` «A……, roi de Alains«. In doing so, Gignoux noted that «le nom du roi ne se laisse pas facilient identifier, mais sa titulature me parait certaine«(1).

   The last decade has demanded from Ukrainian science the development of humanitarian branches of education one wouldn’t dare to think of during the times of communist ideology. One of such problems is a new comprehension of modern political history, which cannot be solved without the unbiased approach to the history of ancient peoples and historical geography, of course.

     As viewed by many researchers, Zoroastrianism sprang up in the I Millennium B.C., in the north-east of Iran, regions covering Central Asia and Afghanistan, on the basis of religious beliefs and mythical views of Iranian tribes.

   The representatives of Kabilink region’s executive  committe, representatives of Caucasian Muslims, a Norwegian charitable organization and the public of the village Nidj on the 19^th of May  celebrated an important step in the path towards the rebirth of the Independent Albanian Church – begining with the religious  services held in the restored church of  « Chotari ».

   Alle sind geduldet in Aserbaidschan, nur nicht die Armenier. Die Einstellung zum verhassten Nachbarn ist überall im Lande spürbar und bei Vertretern aller Glaubensgruppen vertreten, der gemeinsame Gegner eint. Die Allee der Schigiten, der gefallenen Helden aus dem Konflikt mit dem Nachbarland 1992, liegt auf der windigen Höhe über der Bucht von Baku.

   Delegates continue tour with visit to Holocaust Museum. They visit to the Holocaust Museum was one stop on an ambitious tour that started last  Thursday and ends Nov.2. In between, the  group is sheduled to learn about interfaith cooperation at Thanks-Giving Square, separation of faith and government at Southern Methodist University, religious education at the  Islamic School. These are among dozens of private and governmental agencies they`ll visit.

    Azerbaijan historically is characterized by polyethnic features. The nations and tribes of various origins and various languages have settled down here and they have mixed with each other, eventually formed the Azerbaijan nation.

     De besøkte først St. Petersburg sammen med Rolf Kjøde, generalsekretær i Normisjon. Hensikten med oppholdet i St.Petersburg og i Norge har vært å finne gode kirkelige kontakter som kan hjelpe dette lille folket som for få år siden har funnet tilbake til sine kristne røtter. For å bygge opp en levende menighet trenger de hjelp til lederopplæring, teologisk utdannelse og utforming av liturgi. Udinfolkets kirke fikk offentlig godkjenning av aserbajdsjanske myndigheter våren 2003.

 The past year proved to be not only the end of the IInd Millenium but also the 2000-anmversary of Christianity. Over a short period that followed the formation of Christianity, it was widely spread in some countries of the Orient thanks to the efforts of its preachers.