KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyz archeologists search mountain lake east of Bishkek for remains of monastery that local legend says is burial site of Apostle Matthew

Record ID: 1533714

  • Title: KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyz archeologists search mountain lake east of Bishkek for remains of monastery that local legend says is burial site of Apostle Matthew
  • Date: 15th October 2007
  • Summary: WOMAN HOLDING CHILD, STANDING NEAR YURT
  • Embargoed: 30th October 2007 08:39
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kyrgyzstan
  • Country: Kyrgyzstan
  • Topics: History,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA9MUYT0M6G0MBOFRS4LES39LIA
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Kyrgyzstan's largest lake, Issyk-Kul, is located some 200km east of the capital Bishkek, and is known in the Central Asian country as "pearl" of the Tien Shan mountains.
    In 2004, the Kyrgyz government declared the lake as the "property of the nation". But the lake, which is about 180km long and almost 700 meters deep attracts not only crowds of tourists.
    Located close to the original Silk route, the lake is associated with many historical figures, legends, and tales of treasures and palaces built on its shores but now buried underwater.
    Kyrgyz historian and archeologist Vladimir Ploskikh has been searching the shores and depths of Issyk-Kul for the last 20 years.
    He says the complex history linked to the lake, and associated with numerous legend presents an irresistible opportunity for unraveling the past.
    "There are many legends connected to Issyk-Kul, like that of Barskhan city (a Silk route trading post) and Alexander the Great's journey to Issyk-Kul; legends about Tamerlane (a direct descendant of Ghengis Khan) and his palace on Issyk-Kul, and also legends about treasures, like treasures of Ghengis Khan, treasures which were hidden in caves and on the bottom of Issyk-Kul. And the last legend, or rather a historical saga - as the Bishop of Bishkek and Central Asia Vladimir has pointed out to me - about a medieval Christian monastery here, on Issyk-Kul and the remains of St. Matthew, the Evangelist, which are believed to be buried by the walls of this monastery and might be now on the bottom of Issyk-Kul along with the monastery," said Ploskikh.
    And it is the search for the Christian monastery, and the alleged burial site for St. Matthew that has become the focus for Ploskikh's latest project.
    This summer the expedition headed by Ploskikh has uncovered on the northeastern shore of Issyk-Kul what he believes could be the remains of the monastery that a 14th century document suggests is the site where the Apostle Matthew was buried.
    According to some legends, the Apostle Matthew died on his way to India, after establishing several Christian communities during the course of his journey.
    The document which is reportedly kept in Venice, and is known as the Catalan map, mentions a place named "Issicol", where it mentions exists an Armenian monastery, and where the body of St. Matthew is buried.
    Ploskikh's findings of so far have encouraged him and his team that they are on the right track. They have discovered catacombs on the east of the lake which appear to be part of an ancient monastery. Other findings, like bronze and golden crosses, medieval ceramics with Christian symbols, and large candleholders make them believe they are close to finding the site of the monastery.
    "People lived on this sandy ridge a long time ago, even during the middle ages and the bronze age, and our findings support it. Here, down to a depth of five meters we find remains of 19th century buildings, as well as medieval ceramics and some bronze items which are up to 2,000 years old,"
    said Nikolai Levashov, a diver and archeologist on Ploskikh's team, after emerging from the water with what looks like an ancient candleholder from the bottom of the lake. He and his wife Svetlana, both archeologists and professional divers, have been coming to Issyk-Kul for several successive years.
    Ploskikh said if he and his team can find concrete evidence that St.
    Matthew was buried near the lake, it will dramatically transform the area.
    "If we can prove that this is a medieval monastery and the remains of St.Matthew, one of the Evangelists, is buried here, then crowds of Christian pilgrims from all over the world will come here. Like all Muslims come to the Suleiman mountain in Osh (in southern Kyrgyzstan), Christians from all over the world will come to Issyk-Kul," he added.
    Ploskikh hopes that findings from this year's excavations will encourage the Kyrgyz government to become involved in the project, providing extra funding, which could help speed up the search for clues in the depths of lake Issyk-Kul.
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