Remnants of the monastery in which the relics of St. Matthews may
reside discovered in Kirghizia
Bishkek, August 9, Interfax – Kirghiz archeologists have
discoveredruins of the Armenian monastery in which St. Matthews may
have been buried, at eastern side of Lake Issyk-Kul in the north of
the country.
Local mass media have reported Tuesday, citing the leader of the
archeological expedition Vladimir Ploskikh, that the ruins of the
monasteryhave been discovered near the village of Tiuf, on the land
surrounded by water from three sides, though they had searched for
them underwater. The ruins are concealed inside a large loam hill.
The search for the Armenian monastery in which, according to
tradition, St. Matthews was buried began in 2000, prompted by
information received from various sources, including the notes of
Russian traveler Petr Semenov Tian-Shansky.
There is a legend that St. Matthews at the end of his life went to
India but died on his way there somewhere in Kirghizia, having had
time though to found several Christian communities.
Kirghiz archeologists together with explorers from Russia and Germany
intend to continue their search for the burial place of St. Matthews
at the spot where the ruins of the Armenian monastery have been
discovered.