Church of Saint Elisæus (Oghuz)

Two different theories exist about foundation of the church. According to one version, it was found by bishop Pyotr (or Petre) Silikov^[1][2] in 1822, however according to Mikhail Bezhanov, a local Udi ethnograph it was his ancestor Iosif Bezhanov who built this church.^[3] Both sources agree on the date and its foundation as Eastern Orthodox church, however. According to Georgian researcher Roland Topchishvili, later the church fell under jurisdiction of Armenian Church and some members of Silikov family Armenianized, possibly causing the dispute.^[2] Best example for this branching can observed in person of Movses Silikyan, an ethnic Udi of Armenian confession and Zinobi Silikashvili, an Udi of Orthodox confession. Church ceased to function after Soviet takeover.