The world of temples is a wonderful and indescribable world of beauty, in which a person tries to get in touch with various sacraments and thus get closer to God. In Russia it has always been believed that "the temple is the sky on the earth." Here people come to offer their prayers, requests, ask for redemption and forgiveness, find peace of mind. For many years in the USSR among the Yazidi community there was a misconception that the Yazidis have a single temple – St. Lalysh.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening of the borders, it became clear that in the historical homeland of the Yazidis there are dozens of temples and shrines that have become the spiritual heritage of the Yazidi world. A special place in the architecture of the Yazidi temples is occupied by the tops on the domes. In Yazidi tradition, they are of two types: a Crescent moon, which existed in ancient times in different churches, and were more common in Shangal, and the hand, which is common among the Yezidis Sahana, Basic and Bahzani. On the top of the annually hoisted different colors of tape, which means an offering to the temple. ÊzîdîPress made the list of 10 famous Yazidi temples. Unfortunately, some of them were destroyed by terrorists of the so-called "Islamic state". But we hope that after the liberation of Yazidi territories the destroyed churches will be restored again.

1.The main Shrine of the Yazidis, the temple of "Lalysh nurani", which means "Holy Lalysh" (Near Sheikhan, Northern Iraq) The exact date of Foundation of the temple is unknown, but according to experts the temple existed in the pre-Christian era and was for the local population a place of worship of the solar cult. Later it was inhabited by Nestorian monks. In the XII century the local population that worshipped the ancient temple, becoming followers of the Lord Shikhadi, took it back. Throughout his earthly life, Shikhadi held in Lalysh. The temple is located in the valley of the same name, where, according to Yazidi sacred texts, the garden of Eden was located. On the main temple are three domes: a large one in honor of Shikhadi, the second largest of Shekhsin, and the third in honor of Sheikh Musa Anzali. In addition, in the valley there are three towers with the same cone-shaped domes: this Musallah, Seshams and over “Kania Spi”. Under the temple beat two saints for Yazidis key: “Kaniya Spi” and Zemzem. Lalysh is a place of pilgrimage ("Hajj") for Yazidis around the world. On October 6-13 Yazidis from all over the world come here. In the valley and in its surroundings, there are many memorable places of stay of the Yazidi saints, which are sacred to Yazidis. Near Lalysh, in Shikhan, are the residence of the spiritual and secular heads of Yazidis of the World Tahsin-beg and Ihtiyari the Bawa Marg, Sheikh. On the Temple of Lalysh there is a pommel with two metal spheres and the shape of the hand, which symbolizes the hand of the Lord. For each year during the holiday Jamie Shıkhadi offer colored fabric, symbolizing the offering.

2. Shrine of Marmarashen in Maklube (Northern Iraq). The Shrine was founded around the XIII century. In the XX century part of the temple collapsed, and was restored in 2011. Maharasan one of the first companions of Shıkhadi, which in the end of his life was faithful to his teacher. The dome of the temple has a classic Yezidi architectural style, there is also a statue of a lion, which symbolizes courage and divine power. Maharasan often called Sher (lion) Maharasan. The temple is located in the North of Iraq at the foot of mount Maqloub revered by the Yazidis as the seat of the saints.

3.The Shrine of this Manda in the Ain-Sifni (Sheehan, Northern Iraq). The date of its Foundation is unknown. The temple was built in honor of the Yazidi Saint Sheh Mande Fahr, who is considered the patron of snakes, which symbolizes wisdom in different cultures, including Christianity. The architecture is different from other Yazidi temples, has a square shape and a flat roof, without a dome. At the entrance — a statue of a snake.

4. Shrine of Pir Bub in Bahzan (Bahsan, Northern Iraq). The date of its Foundation is unknown. The temple was erected in honor of the Yazidi Holy Pir Buba Bahzani, one of the students od Shikhadi. According to legend, the Pir Bub was sent by Shıkhadi in Bahzan for the preaching of the true path. The architecture has a classic style of Yazidi temples, has a conical dome. It was restored in the late XX century. The Church had a library and a religious Sunday school for children. After the capture Bahsan by ISIS militants in August 2014 the temple was blown up.

5. The Temple Of Shehubakr (Bahsan, Northern Iraq). The date of its foundation is unknown. It was built near the cave in the village of Bahzan in honor of the Yazidi Holy Shehubakr, one of the faithful followers of Shikhadi, who was a preacher and teacher in the knowledge of the mystic path. Shehubakr led an ascetic life and was very revered by the Yazidis. The temple is made in the traditional style of architecture for Yazidis, has a conical dome. Was restored at the end of the XX century. The temple locates in a beautiful garden among the mulberry and olive trees. After the capture of Bahsan by ISIS militants in August 2014 the temple was blown up.

6. The Shrine Of Sheh Ale Shams (Sheehan, Northern Iraq). The date of Foundation of the temple is unknown. Erected in honor of the Yazidi Holy Sheh Ale Shams, one of the sons of Sheshamas (Sheh Shams). The architecture is classic for the Yazidis style. The dome of the temple has a conical shape. Located in the middle of the Yazidi cemetery on the hill.

7. Temple Of Sultan Ezid "Cuba Sltan Ezid" (Tbilisi, Georgia). The first stone in the Foundation of the temple was laid in October 2012 with the Supreme spiritual persons of Lalysh. The construction began in 2013. The opening of the temple took place on 16 June 2015 in the presence of representatives of the higher clergy of Lalysh, the Georgian government and spiritual leaders of different faiths. The temple was built in classic Yazidi style. The finial of the temple "khlel" is also created in the traditional style: two areas and a palm on it. According to the decision of the spiritual Council of Yazidis in Georgia annually, on Sunday before the Day of remembrance of the dead "Roja Mazal", will be celebrated the holiday "Tawafa Ezid". The center for Yazidi studies and the cultural center "House of Yazidis of Georgia" operate at the Tbilisi temple. The courtyard of the temple is decorated with a garden of different types of rare plants.

8.Shrine of the Yazidis "Ziyarat Ezdia" (the village of Aknalich, Armavir Marz, Armenia). Is the first Shrine built in the former Soviet Union in 2012, the area of the temple is decorated with a beautiful garden in front of the entrance to the courtyard is an alley where are monuments to Yazidi heroes. The white stone with which it is decorated gives beauty to the Shrine.
The Church has a meeting room for the local community. The dome of the Shrine is reminiscent of the domes of the temples of the Yazidi in Iraq. In 2015, was made a decision about the construction of another temple "Kuba mere divane” next to the Shrine." The laying of the first stone in the foundation of the temple took place in September 2015. Every year on 29 September is celebrated the opening day of the temple "Ziyarat Ezdia".

9. Sharfadin temple in Shangal (Sinjar, Northern Iraq). The exact date of foundation of the temple is unknown. It was erected in honor of the Yazidi spiritual leader and Saint Sharfadin, who symbolizes the religion of Yazidis and is considered the coming Messiah. The temple is located in the Northern part of the Sinjar mountains. Throughout the centuries, the Shrine of Sharfadin was an example of the firmness of the Yazidi spirit. When ISIS terrorists captured Shangal, it was here that the Yazidi resistance was founded.

10. The Shrine of Haji Ali in Baadre (Northern Iraq). The Shrine was founded around the XIV century, was destroyed by kurdish attacks, and then restored. After some time, the temple was again destroyed and restored only at the beginning of the XX century. Haji Ali was one of the faithful followers of Shikhadi, who regaled his master for 40 days at his home in Baadre. The dome of the temple is made in the classical architectural style for Yazidis, but has a number of features: in front of the doors there are two columns, and inside on the walls — the image of a peacock.

Afterword

Many of the temples described in the article for many centuries became unwitting witnesses of mass crimes against the Yazidis. Anyway, whole empires died, many peoples disappeared, who made a huge contribution to the spiritual heritage of all mankind, but the Yazidis, having endured so much bitterness and excesses, managed to survive. And the reason for that is the faith that lived in the heart of every Yazidi and never left this nation.

Author: Rustam Rzgoyan, ÊzîdîPress

Translation from Russian to English: David Babaev