His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia begins his visit to Azerbaijan

14 September 2005 marks the beginning of the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia to Azerbaijan at the invitation of the President of the country Ilham Aliev and the head of the Spiritual Board of the Muslims of the Caucasus Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pasha-zade. His Holiness the Patriarch is accompanied by the Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was met at the airport by the Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ramiz Mekhtiev, acting ambassador of the Russian Federation in Azerbaijan P.A.Burdykin, Bishop Alexander of Baku and Caspian region with the clergymen of the diocese, the head of the Spiritual Board of the Muslims of the Caucasus Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pasha-zade, representatives of the state authorities and members of the Russian community of Azerbaijan.

While answering the questions of the journalists about the objective and programme of his visit to Azerbaijan, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy reminded them that this year marked the 25^th anniversary of the election of Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pasha-zade to the high post of the head of the Spiritual Board of the Muslims of the Caucasus. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church considered it his duty to personally congratulate his highly respected fellow religionist on this remarkable date.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy also noted that it was planned to discuss the questions of consolidation and development of interreligious cooperation and struggle against violence and terrorism.

‘Religious leaders have always come out for peace, accord and cooperation,’ His Holiness Patriarch Alexy underscored. His Holiness also said that the Second Inter-religious Peace Forum held in Moscow decided to establish the CIS Inter-religious Council co-chaired by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Head of the Spiritual Board of the Muslims of the Caucuses on 3 March 2004.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and Sheikh ul-Islam Allakhshukur Pasha-zade always participate in traditional meetings between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Russia.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy will lay a wreath to the memorial at the gravesite of Azerbaijan’s national leader Geidar Aliev. His Holiness is also to meet with President Ilham Aliev and to visit Geidar Aliev’s Foundation.

On 15 September 2005, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church will visit the Cathedral of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, which he had consecrated during his first visit to Azerbaijan in 2001.

Patriarch Alexy is to meet with the Head of the Spiritual Board of the Muslims of the Caucuses Sheikh ul-Islam Allakhshukur Pasha-zade and representatives of the Russian community.