Shamkir,
Azerbaijan
On
July 23, 2016, the congregation of the Savior in Baku experienced a touching moment
of solidarity with their ancestors. I as a pastor had the opportunity
to lead a Lutheran worship service in the building of the Annenfeld
church and to return to this historical monument, even if for just a
few hours, living prayers to the Lord.
Having
resolved all the formalities with government structures and having
received permission from the Azerbaijan State Committee on Religious
Affairs, 16 people from the congregation went to this historical
place, the city of Shakmir.
As
early as the V century Shakmir was established as a large craft and
trading city in Persia. This medieval town also had close historical
ties with German settlers. In 1818, 67 families from Wurtemburg
established the Annenfeld village and found in Azerbaijan a new
homeland.
In
1826 the German village was destroyed by Persians, and its residents
were made to leave their homes to find a place in another colony. For
the next decade they suffered from a lack of land and from disease,
but in 1836 they were able to return to Shakmir and restore their
homes and their land.
In
1909 the colonists built a new church in the Neo-Gothic style;
worship services were held there until 1941, when the Germans were
deported. In the postwar years the building was first used as a
“house of culture,” and then the regional historical museum.
Thanks to help from Germany and the support of the state, the
building was restored.
And
now in 2016 the congregation had the unique opportunity to hold a
Lutheran worship service in this historical place. We were overjoyed!
The residents of the city and the local government met us in a
friendly way and a few of them joined us for worship. The “kirche”
has an organ in it, and we sang and prayed in the space where
wonderful acoustics strengthened the sound of our voices. It was as
if we were transported into the past, resurrecting the history of
Swabian settlers.
After
worship we were shown the city. We think that this day might be our
congregation's small contribution to the program of the planed
celebration of the 200th
anniversary of Germany settlers coming to the Southern Caucasus. If
God grants it we will be able in those days of celebration to all
pray together in the church in Annenfeld.
Pastor
Menzer Ismailova
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