Three Saints Church (Shaki)

Nukha Three Saints Church, Nukha Holy Church or Round Temple is a former Russian Orthodox church building located in Shaki, Azerbaijan near Khan's Palace, named after the Cappadocian Fathers.

History

The history of the church's foundation is ambiguous, which has led some researchers to identify the building as a Caucasian Albanian church, a former mosque and a chapel for the Imperial Russian garrison. The church's presence was not mentioned prior to 1853, when a priest known as Yevstafiy was appointed to serve in the church. Another priest, Gavriil Pechenskiy, served in Nukha c. 1894–1896. Georgian priest David Utiyev, a missionary to the local Muslim Ingiloy population of Tasmalı in 1875 was also based in the Three Saints Church. His grave is inside the yard of church.

Former mosque claim

A claim of the church being converted from a mosque was mentioned by the Russian traveller Joseph Segal in 1902 and Azerbaijani writer Rashid beg Afandizadeh in 1925. However, according to a report by a Russian officer stationed in the city, it was the khan's home-mosque converted to chapel.

Graveyard

The church graveyard houses at least three tombstones belonging to Imperial Russian officers and David Utiyev, a Georgian priest.

Current use

The church is currently functioning as the local Museum of Folk and Applied Arts. It is listed as country-level important monument in the Ministry of Culture database.