Elisæus of Albania

Elisæus of Albania
Saint Yegishe
Icon of St. Elisæus (Church of Saint Elisæus, Gabala, Azerbaijan)
Catholicos of Church of Caucasian Albania
Born c.1st century AD
Died 74 or 79 AD
Gelmets , Rutulsky District, Dagestan
Venerated in Church of Caucasian Albania
Feast July 20
Patronage Azerbaijan
St.
Elisæus
Catholicos of Albania
Church Church of Caucasian Albania
Term ended 74 or 79
Successor Saint Grigoris of Albania
Personal details
Died 74 or 79
Denomination Christianity

Saint Elisæus or Yegishe was the first patriarch of the Church of Caucasian Albania by local tradition.

Life

He was one of five disciples of St. Thaddeus (or, of Thaddeus of Edessa, who may have been the same person). He returned to Jerusalem after the martyrdom of Thaddeus, and was appointed as head of the church by James the Just.[1] He began his preaching in Chola and then passed to Utik and Kish according to Armenian historian Movses Kaghankatvatsi, but this route is debated by some researchers as passing such a long way with opposing directions wouldn't be comfortable.[2] An alternative route would be via Utik, Kish, Chola, Akhty, Zrykh, Mukhrek and Gelmets.[3] He was martyred by local pagans in the village of Kolmank, which is located in modern Gelmets village of Dagestan. His relics were discovered by local Christians and a pillar was erected by Vachagan III on the site, with the relics later buried in Yeghishe Arakyal Monastery.

Churches

Several churches named after Elisæus:

References

  1. ↑ Movses Kaghankatvatsi, History of the Aghuans, VI chapter
  2. ↑ Kish, Khojavend is considerably closer to the other places mentioned than is Kish, Shaki, the place traditionally identified as Kish in the saint's life.
  3. ↑ Ibrahimov H. Christianity among Sakhurs. Alpha&Omega, № 1(19). Moscow, 1999. p.174.
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