The Ancient Seven Churches Monastery Complex: A Hidden Gem in Azerbaijan

Cavanşir Gadimov

8 Jul, 2022

Ancient Seven Churches Monastery Complex in Qakh district of Azerbaijan

Dr. Javanshir Gadimov

Seven Churches Monastery Complex is an amazing place located in the Qakh district of Azerbaijan. The place is called “Seven Churches” because there are seven churches in one place. Actually, there are 2 basilicas and 5 small cells. That's why this place is called “Seven Churches”.

Ancient Seven Churches Monastery Complex in the Qakh district of Azerbaijan

I just visited this place and I found it really amazing. Still, must say that this place from centuries ago and built during Caucasian Albania (established 2nd century BC and disestablished 8th century AD) needs some serious work of restoration. Because what's left there is mostly ruins once-great Monastery Complex.

Seven Churches Monastery is located in the forest area between the villages of Lakit and Kotuklu, in the Qakh district. According to the signboard on this historical place, it belongs to VI and VIII centuries. But some sources I found on the internet say Seven Churches was constructed in the IV-V century.

How to get to Seven Churches Monastery Complex

It was actually not easy to find this place. In these mountainous and remote areas, maps like Google Maps are not that accurate. But still, once you know what direction you go you can find it. First, we went to the village Lekit (also Ləkit and Lyakit). Once we reached the last houses in the village we had to leave the car. Because the road is rocky and if you don't have an off-road vehicle you can't continue with a car. So for the rest of the road, we went walking in the forest.

The villagers told us it was just 500-700 meters from the place where we left the car. But it's actually like 1,5-2 km away. For a while, I thought I was lost in the woods. Because it's really nothing out there. Some fields and trees. But at last, after some walk, I reached the place that you see in the picture below.

Stone gates of the Seven Churches Monastery Complex

First I thought “Is that it?” and “Just two walls left from the ancient temple?” Because I really didn't know what to expect. But it was actually a stone gate and entrance to the Seven Churches Monastery Complex. Once I went a little further I could see that there was an ancient road headed from the gate (or most probably even a defensive tower, and maybe there were even walls before) to the churches. Mostly ruins and traces of the stone road.

After 500 meters from the gate, you can now see a plain, and in that plain ruins of the great Seven Churches Monastery Complex.

There are 2 basilicas and 5 small cells. One basilica mostly just ruins. The second one is also not in good condition. But still, you can go inside and see how amazing is the place. Surrounding these basilicas are 5 small cells. They also look like small churches. Stonemasonry is amazing. The churches were built from stone. But then the walls were covered with a different type of stone covering that does not belong to this region. Most probably they were brought from far away.

Some small cells were also wholly destroyed and some half-collapsed. But even though it was amazing to visit the place and see it. This region of Sheki-Zagatala has many ancient temples and churches from Caucasian Albania time. Until now I visited the “Church of Kish” in the Kish village of Sheki city of Azerbaijan. Seven Churches Monastery Complex is different from it. Because this place is the biggest temple among the monuments of Caucasian Albania in the territory.

It was amazing to visit it. Hope this place will be restored and it will have a better road. So more people, tourists, and history lovers can visit this fantastic place.