The Alan settlement is an interesting historical landmark in the North Caucasus. Everyone knows that there is beautiful nature in the Caucasus, but in Arkhyz you need to stop at the Alan Settlement to see some of the oldest Christian churches in Russia. They were built by the Byzantines in the 10th century.
Three monumental Christian churches have been preserved in the Alan settlement, as well as the ruins of other buildings. Archaeologists and historians suggest that the capital of the Alan state, the ancient city of Magas (Maas), was located here. Alan tribes have lived in the North Caucasus since the 4th century AD. They initially united in a tribal union, and in the 9th century created their own state under the rule of the tsar.
The state of the Alans existed on these lands until 1230. It was an ally of the Georgian Kingdom. In the 10th century, the Alans adopted Christianity. In 1221, the lands of Georgia were invaded from the south by the Mongol-Tatar army led by the military leaders Jebe and Sudey. They agreed with the Khan of Derbent to let them through the narrow passage at the Narynkala Fortress without a fight. However, the Mongols started a bloody war with the Georgians.
Having subdued the Georgians, they came to the lands of the Alans. They defended themselves bravely and won the first battle. But before the second battle, the Mongols bribed the Polovtsians. Those left the Alan army at the crucial moment, and it was defeated. In the 1230s, the Alan state ceased to exist. They were forced to move to the high mountain gorges. One of the main places of residence was the Kurtatinsky gorge. Having mixed with other Caucasian tribes, the Alans became the progenitors of the Ossetians.
The baptism of Alanya according to the Byzantine rite took place in 916. After that, the construction of Christian churches in Alanya began. Three Alan temples dating from the 10th-11th century have been preserved in the Alan Settlement in Arkhyz.
The date of the baptism of Alanya is known from the letters of the Patriarch of Constantinople, Nicholas the Mystic. The Alans became the first people to adopt Christianity in the North Caucasus. In Russia Christianity was adopted in 988, 72 years after Alanya.
The oldest Christian church in Russia is the Church of John the Baptist in Kerch. It was also built by the Byzantines. The foundation and part of the walls have been preserved since the 6th century, but the preserved church itself was built in the 10th century. The Alan temples belong to the same period.
Three ancient churches in the Alan settlement:
The Northern Temple. It is the furthest from the entrance to the Alan settlement. This is the most monumental temple, which in the 10th century was the Cathedral of Magas. In 1940, excavations were carried out in the temple. A female burial with a large number of gold jewelry was found in the graves under the floor of the temple. Now they are stored in the Historical Museum of Moscow.
The Middle temple. A monumental temple built in the 10th century in strict accordance with the canons of the cross-domed churches of Byzantium. It has a "voice boxes": a system of blind and through holes in the arches, which enhance the acoustics in the temple room. These technologies prove that the temple was built by masters from Byzantium using all the achievements of that time. The temple was built as a burial place of the Alan kings and metropolitans.
The Northern Temple. The smallest temple of the 10th century in the Alan Settlement. It has been completely restored and consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas. Regular church services are held in the temple. Some researchers assume that it was a house church on the territory of the estate of an Alan noble family.
How to get to the Alan settlement:
Usually, tourists visit the Alan Settlement on the first day when they go to Arkhyz. If you arrived by train or arrived by plane at Mineralnye Vody Airport, then the road by car will take at least three hours, and by public transport much longer. This means that you will arrive in Arkhyz after lunch. It is already too late to go on any routes to the mountains, and it is very convenient to make a stop for 2-3 hours in the Alan Settlement.
Heading to Arkhyz, before the village of Nizhny Arkhyz, you need to turn onto the bridge over the Big Zelenchuk River and then drive back along the riverbed for 1 kilometer. The territory of the Alan Settlement is quite extensive. If you are traveling by public transport, then keep in mind that the stop is located at a considerable distance across the river.
A public transport stop is located near the Church of the Savior on the road. There are many shops and cafes there. A staircase leading to the mountains begins near the church, where the Face of Christ is carved on the stones. Researchers believe that this "stone icon" also belongs to the 10th century, as well as the churches.
