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16-433: The Zelenchuksky Churches are an archaeological preserve extending for 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) around the ruins of Nizhnearkhyzskoe gorodishche, tentatively identified as the medieval capital of Alania , a Christian state destroyed by the hordes of Möngke Khan in the 13th century. No Byzantine document mentions the name of this city, whereas al-Mas'udi refers to it as Ma'as, or Maghas . The most remarkable feature of

32-714: A short grave inscription ( Zelenchuk Inscription  [ ru ] ) was discovered in 1888. Although it is written in Greek characters, the inscription (alternatively dated to 941 or 963) was interpreted by Vasily Abayev as the earliest preserved text in the Ossetic language . Another tourist attraction in the valley is a mandylion -type rock painting of Christ , datable to the 10th century but discovered only recently. 43°33′54″N 41°16′44″E  /  43.56500°N 41.27889°E  / 43.56500; 41.27889 Senty Church Senty Church ( Russian : Сентинский храм )

48-443: A short grave inscription ( Zelenchuk Inscription  [ ru ] ) was discovered in 1888. Although it is written in Greek characters, the inscription (alternatively dated to 941 or 963) was interpreted by Vasily Abayev as the earliest preserved text in the Ossetic language . Another tourist attraction in the valley is a mandylion -type rock painting of Christ , datable to the 10th century but discovered only recently. Arkhyz

64-510: Is a Christian church built in 965 in the territory of modern Karachay-Cherkessia (Russian Federation). It is situated on the left bank of the Teberda River , near the village of Nizhnyaya Teberda , 18 km south of Karachaevsk . Senty Church is the earliest dated church in Russia. Precise dating of the church is based on the inscription found on the northern wall of the eastern aisle. The text

80-456: Is also the site of a Soviet astrophysical observatory which formerly boasted the world's largest solid-mirror reflecting telescope (6 meters in diameter). Zelenchuksky Churches The Zelenchuksky Churches or, Lower-Arkhyz Churches are located in an archaeological preserve extending for four kilometers around the ruins of Lower Arkhyz hillfort  [ ru ] near Arkhyz , Karachay–Cherkessia , Russian Federation . The site

96-485: Is as follows: + Ἐνεκεν[ίσ]θ(η), ἐνεώσ[θ(η)] ὁ να[ὸς] τ(ῆς) ὑπεραγίας θ(εοτόκ)ου ἐπὴ βασηλ[είας Νηκηφώρου, Βασηλ[είου] καὶ [Κωνσταντίνου κὲ Δα(υὶ)δ ἐξουσηωκράτορ(ος) [Ἀλανίας κ(αὶ) Μαρίας ἐξουσ[η]ωκράτ[ορίσσης μ]ην(ὴ) Ἀπρη(λίου) β´, ἡμέρᾳ ἁγ[ή]ου Α[ντιπάσχα (?) δηὰ χηρὸς Θεοδώρου, μητ[ροπο- λ(ίτου) καθηγη(ασμένου) Ἀλανί(ας), ἀπ[ὸ] κ[τί- σε(ως) κό(σμου) ἔτ(ους) ςυογ´. Ἀν[ε- γράφε[το] δηὰ χειρὸς [τοῦ δεῖνος ἀποκρησ(ιαρίου) πατρ(ικίου). Which means: +Sanctified, renewed

112-442: Is tentatively identified as the medieval capital of Alania , a Christian state destroyed by the hordes of Möngke Khan in the 13th century. No Byzantine document mentions the name of this city, whereas al-Mas'udi refers to it as Ma'as, or Maghas . The most remarkable feature of the site is a cluster of three early medieval churches, whose construction is associated with the missionary activities of Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos in

128-412: The 10th and 13th centuries. The dome rises to a height of 21 meters; the western wall is twice as long. The narthex formerly contained a baptistery . A 19th-century traveller described the faded Byzantine frescoes that were still visible on its walls. The Central Zelenchuksky Church appears to have been conceived somewhat earlier than the two others, in the form of a regular cross, but was extended to

144-588: The Northern Caucasus. These structures bear much resemblance to the Shoana Church and Senty Church , situated in the neighbouring valleys. In the 19th century the churches were affiliated with the monastery of St. Alexander Nevsky. A monastic community was revived there after the fall of the Soviet Union. The North Zelenchuksky Church is supposed to have been the cathedral of the diocese of Alania between

160-477: The church of the Blessed Virgin is in the reign of Nikephoro, Basil and Constantine and David, exusiocrator (a special title for ruler of Alania, byzantine exarch) of Alania and Maria, exusiocratoriss on 2 April, in the day of the saint Antipascha, by the hand of Theodorе, sanctified mitropolite of Alania in the year 6473 [964/965 in the modern Gregorian calendar] from the creation of the world. Written by

176-512: The hand of [name], apocrisiarius patricius Like the Shoana Church and the Arkhyz Cathedral, Senty Church is believed to have been constructed in connection with missionary activities of Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos in the 10th century. In the second half oh the 19th century an orthodox Spassko-Preobrazhenskiy convent was built near the Senty church. The church was much altered at the urging of

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192-430: The nuns, its original form was changed. In the soviet times the convent was turned into an orphan house. At the present time it is being rebuilt. Near the church lie the ruins of a mausoleum which is also dates back to the 10th century. Supposedly it was intended to be used as a burial place for higher church officials. This building is unique for the northern Caucasus. The church is built from polished sandstone with

208-412: The site is a cluster of three early medieval churches, whose construction is associated with the missionary activities of Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos in the Northern Caucasus. These structures bear much resemblance to the Shoana Church and Senty Church , situated in the neighbouring valleys. In the 19th century the churches were affiliated with the monastery of St. Alexander Nevsky. A monastic community

224-601: The two others, in the form of a regular cross, but was extended to the west during or shortly following the construction. It is much larger than the South Zelenchuksky Church , which was built of coarse rubble masonry, extensively restored by the monks in 1899, fell into disuse during the Soviet years, and was reconsecrated to St. Elijah in 1991. The South Church bears the distinction of being the oldest functioning church in all of Russia. Within 30 km from Nizhny Arkhyz

240-418: The west during or shortly following the construction. It is much larger than the South Zelenchuksky Church , which was built of coarse rubble masonry, extensively restored by the monks in 1899, fell into disuse during the Soviet years, and was reconsecrated to St. Elijah in 1991. The South Church bears the distinction of being the oldest functioning church in all of Russia. Within 30 km from Nizhny Arkhyz

256-507: Was revived there after the fall of the Soviet Union. The North Zelenchuksky Church is supposed to have been the cathedral of the diocese of Alania between the 10th and 13th centuries. The dome rises to a height of 21 meters; the western wall is twice as long. The narthex formerly contained a baptistery . A 19th-century traveller described the faded Byzantine frescoes that were still visible on its walls. The Central Zelenchuksky Church appears to have been conceived somewhat earlier than

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