Prayer Fuel
Interest in Their Ancient Christian Heritage
In Acts 2, Parthians and Medes were present in Jerusalem to hear Peter preach at Pentecost. Imagine them bringing Good News about Jesus back to their homeland. Christianity reached the region of Azerbaijan during the days of the Apostles. Orthodox tradition says that the Apostle Bartholomew was martyred in the city of Albanopolis, which some scholars believe to be modern-day Baku.
In the year 314, King Urnayr of Caucasian Albania became a Christian. He established the Church of Caucasian Albania, declared Christianity to be the state religion. Though Islamic conquest came in 667, a remnant of this ancient Christian church still exists in the Udi community of Azerbaijan.
In the Azerbaijani provinces of Iran, the Assyrian Syriac Church and other ancient Christian churches coexisted with Islam for centuries. This came to an end with the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Many of these Christians sought asylum in Europe and North America, leaving little to no remnant of ancient Christian witness in Iran.
Christians in Azerbaijan and Iran can look to their ancient Christian heritage as a source of inspiration and hope. A resurgent interest in their ancient Christian past can lead curious Muslims to ask questions about Jesus.
Pray with us…
- Pray that the long tradition of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians will lead to respect and curiosity about Jesus.
- Pray that historical structures, including church buildings, monasteries, and graveyards, will prompt nonbelievers to investigate Christianity and discover Jesus.
- Pray that the ancient Christian heritage of the region will be a challenge to the belief that to be Azerbaijani is to be Muslim.
