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==Early history==
The kingdom of Arran, better known in English as 'Caucasian Albania,' is said to have been first evangelized by the Holy [[Apostle Bartholomew]] and a [[disciple]] of St. [[Apostle Jude|Thaddeus]], St. [[Elisha of Arran|Elisha]], who is called the 'Apostle of Arran.' The nation as a whole did not convert until shortly after the conversion of neighboring Armenia, with the Arsacid King [[Urnayr]] being [[baptism|baptized]] by St. [[Gregory the Enlightener|Gregory the Illuminator]] in 313.[[File:Arrancross.jpg]]
In 330, a grandson of St. Gregory, St. Grigoris, became the first [[bishop]] and [[Catholicos]] of Arran (called Aghvank by the Armenians), which included much of modern day Azerbaijan and Artsakh. St. Grigoris was [[martyr]]ed in 338 while preaching in Dagestan, but his [[relics]] were rescued by his disciples and kept at the Amaras Monastery in western Arran (modern day Artsakh). In the following years the position of the Catholicate strengthened, being established at the Arranian capital Qabala.
