The Mysterious 'Disappearance' of the Church: BBC Investigates the Destroyed St. Mary Church by Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani authorities have completely destroyed the Armenian St. Mary Church in Mehakavan, located in the Hadrut region of Nagorno-Karabakh, following the 2020 war.

According to reports from Armenpress, a film crew from the British BBC visited Mehakavan (known as Jabrayil in Azerbaijan) to document the situation. Journalist Jonah Fisher attempted to film the St. Mary Church, which had been desecrated by Azerbaijani soldiers after the occupation, with one soldier climbing onto the church to try to topple the cross.

When questioned by the accompanying Azerbaijani police officer about the church's location, he responded that they had no information regarding the church. Thus, the British journalist independently located the site of the church using his phone’s GPS and set out there with the operator.

However, the hill where the St. Mary Church was presumed to stand is now entirely empty. Only stones remain scattered on the ground, presumed to be remnants of the church.

Jonah Fisher compared the location with an old photo he had of the church and confirmed that they were at the same spot, with the only difference being that the church no longer exists.

When he again questioned the police officer about the church’s whereabouts, the officer replied that it might have been destroyed during the war. Fisher countered that it could not have been destroyed during the war, as there are videos showing Azerbaijanis present there.

In Baku, during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's advisor Hikmet Hajiyev, Fisher showed him a photograph of the church taken in 2017 alongside a current photo of the empty hill, noting that the church has been completely destroyed. In response, Hajiyev expressed only skepticism, stating that he was not aware and that the information needed verification.

The eradication of Armenian historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage has become a common practice for Azerbaijani authorities. It has previously been reported that Azerbaijanis have also destroyed the St. John the Baptist Church, commonly referred to as the 'Green Church', in the city of Shushi.