Saint Thomas Monastery of Agulis

Saint Thomas Monastery of Agulis (Armenian: Ագուլիսի Սուրբ Թովմա առաքյալ վանք) was an Armenian Apostolic monastery, located in the Yuxarı Əylis village of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

[1] According to tradition, St. Thomas Monastery was founded by St. Bartholomew the Apostle in the 1st century, and his pupil, Kums (hy), was appointed its priest.

It was probably a small chapel-like building that was rebuilt and expanded after the conversion of Armenia to Christianity.

[1][2] St. Thomas Monastery consisted of a temple, bell towers, a wall and auxiliary buildings.

[1][2][3] In 1919, Turkish troops destroyed Agulis, massacred the Armenian population and looted the monastery, which was later abandoned and deserted.

St. Thomas Monastery in early 20th century
St. Thomas Monastery