"The Russian Orthodox Church has always supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. If necessary, we will not hesitate to offer our assistance in restoring the destroyed religious temples in the liberated territories," Bishop of Baku and Azerbaijan Alexy (Smirnov) said during an event marking the 137th anniversary of the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Ganja, APA reports.
He noted that no sacred place should be destroyed: "The building we are standing on now has been in this ancient land for almost 160 years and will soon be repaired with the support of the government of Azerbaijan. This shows how sensitive and respectful Azerbaijan is to the faith and religion of nations. We, Orthodox people living on earth, are grateful to Azerbaijan, we pray that Almighty God blesses everyone. May we live in peace and tranquility, raise our children, and take care of our future."
The cleric noted that all the churches of the Baku Diocese are open to everyone who respects other faiths: "We, as Orthodox Christians, highly appreciate the policy of the state to strengthen inter-religious relations."
Recall that approximately 200 Orthodox believers living in the area worship at the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church, the only church in the western region. The church was built in 1887 and has been preserved to this day.
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