Documentary on Caucasian Albania's Christian heritage premieres in UK

British director Alex Fodor has premiered a new documentary titled ‘The Cross of Stolen Churches’ in the United Kingdom. The film explores the history of Christianity in Caucasian Albania and the fate of its church heritage.

Filmed in Azerbaijan and Georgia, the documentary utilizes archival research from various countries, including the Vatican, Israel, France, Turkey, and Russia. Key themes include the rise and decline of Christianity in the region and disputes regarding the ownership of religious heritage. The film features insights from Anania Caparidze, a prominent historian and Metropolitan of Mtskheta and Tetritskaro, who discusses claims regarding the Armenian Church and its relationship to Albanian church property.

Additionally, the film investigates the historical locations of the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus, debating whether the site of Bartholomew’s martyrdom is in Baku or modern-day Turkey. The documentary also addresses the presence of the seal of the Catholicos of Caucasian Albania at the National Library of France, raising questions about the potential return of such historical artifacts to their original homeland.