Catholicosate of Aghvank Church of Caucasian Albania

gandzasar monastery, seat of aghvank catholicosate of armenian apostolic church until 19th century.

the aghvank or gandzasar catholicate of armenian apostolic church continued exist 19th century separate diocese of church. there attempts church of caucasian albania adopt chalcedonianism , break rest of armenian church autocephalous in mid-10th century, suppressed armenian clergy support of king ashot iii. after transfer of seat of armenian patriarch rumkale, cilicia, in 12th century, caucasian albanian bishops no longer appealed former ordain catholicoi. original order restored in 1634 after seat of armenian patriarch returned ejmiatsin. see of caucasian albanian catholicate remained in partav while. around 1213, transferred khamshi monastery south of gadabay. beginning in 1240, gandzasar monastery grew increasingly in importance, , in 15th century became seat of caucasian albanian catholicos. period on, catholicoi members of household of armenian princely family of gandzasar, house of hasan-jalalyan.

in addition former jurisdiction of church of caucasian albania, catholicate maintained control on armenian diocese in golden horde in 13th , 14th centuries, centered in capital city of sarai. in mid-18th century, religious life of armenian community of astrakhan supervised caucasian albanian catholicate. beginning in 18th century, hasan-jalalyans actively contributed russian conquest of south caucasus. in 1815, 2 years after russian conquest of karabakh khanate, office of caucasian albanian catholicate abolished, , head replaced metropolitan bishop. in 1836, under decree of nicolas regulated status of armenian apostolic church within russian empire, office of caucasian albanian metropolitan bishop abolished completely. jurisdictions subordinated directly armenian apostolic church dioceses of artsakh , shamakhy, vicariate of ganja within armenian church s tbilisi consistory.