Church of Kish
| Church of Kish Church of Saint Elishe Müq. Yelisey Kilsəsi Holy Mother of God Church Tanrının Müqəddəs anası Kilsəsi |
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| Basic information | |
| Location |
 Kiş, Shaki, Azerbaijan
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| Geographic coordinates | 41°14′56″N 47°11′35″E / 41.248933°N 47.193067°ECoordinates: 41°14′56″N 47°11′35″E / 41.248933°N 47.193067°E |
| Affiliation | Church of Caucasian Albania |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | inactive |
| Completed | 12th-13th century |
The Church of Kish (Azerbaijani: Kiş kilsəsi), also known by different sources as Church of Saint Elishe (Azerbaijani: Müqəddəs Yelisey kilsəsi, Armenian: Սուրբ Եղիշէ եկեղեցի) or Holy Mother of God Church (Armenian: Սուրբ Աստուածածին եկեղեցի), is an inactive 12th or 13th century Caucasian Albanian church located in the village of Kiş approximately 5 km north of Shaki, Azerbaijan. It has functioned at different times as a Caucasian Albanian Apostolic church a Chalcedonian church within the Georgian Orthodox Church and later as Armenian Apostolic Church.
According to the 7th century Armenian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi, in the 1st century AD St. Elishe, a disciple of Thaddeus of Edessa, arrived to a place called Gis (Գիս), where he built a church and recited a liturgy. The church became the "spiritual center and the place of enlightenment of people of the East". On his way from Gis St. Elishe was killed near the pagan altar in the small Zerguni valley by unknown people.
According to the Armenian historian on architectureSamvel Karapetian, the geographical position of Kish does not seem to match that described by Kaghankatvatsi. Karapetian believes that they have identified Gis as the village of Bomen/Bum 60 km to the south-east of Kish, in Gabala district.
According to a Georgian historiographer, in the 10th century, the population of Kish converted to the Georgian Orthodox Church (Chalcedonism). The church of Kish was turned into a residence of a Georgian bishop, functioning till 17th century. By the time when Russia took possession of the region the village of Kish had Udi population. According to Robert H. Hewsen, the Udi language appeared to have been prevalent north of Kura River until the nineteenth century, and the Armenian population appeared to be of relatively recent arrival. While many Armenians undoubtedly settled there fleeing the Turko-Mongolic invasions, many more entered the region with the coming of the Russians in the early nineteenth century.
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