On September 19, 2024, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow.
Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill met with Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board.
In recognition of his contribution to the development of interreligious dialog, preservation of traditional values in society and in connection with his 75th birthday, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade with an award of the Russian Orthodox Church — the Order of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Kiev, Moscow and All Russia (I degree).
Holy Patriarch Kirill presented Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade with an award of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The award ceremony was attended by the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and the deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Archimandrite Filaret (Bulekov).
Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Administration was accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation Polad Bulbuloglu, First Deputy Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Administration Salman Musayev and other members of the delegation.
Addressing the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Administration, said: «Your Holiness, I would like to express my gratitude and sincere appreciation to You on behalf of the Azerbaijani people, on behalf of the Muslims of the entire Caucasus». He, in particular, mentioned with gratitude the peacemaking trilateral meetings of the spiritual leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, emphasizing: «During these meetings you were always on the side of truth, justice and truth».
.
Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh called the award a vivid evidence of «the brotherly and friendly relations that bind us». «I pray to the Almighty, our Creator, that our brotherly relations and fraternal relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, trustful brotherly, friendly relations between the leadership of our two countries continue to strengthen and develop» — he said.
Pashazadeh said.
«With a great sense of satisfaction and joy, I laid on you the high award of the Russian Orthodox Church, because you are an outstanding religious figure in the post-Soviet space, as we now call our once large and common country. You have always entered into dialog with representatives of our Church with an open heart and with good feelings and personally with me. The wonderful atmosphere that was created in the context of these dialogues helped, first of all, to reach agreement on the issues that were on the agenda. And it brought us very close to you» — noted His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church noted the importance of good relations between the two peoples, which is especially noticeable at a time when the world is experiencing various kinds of dangerous conflicts, including interreligious conflicts. I believe that good relations with the Muslims of the Caucasus and in your person — with the entire Islamic Caucasian Ummah are a very important factor in maintaining peace and good neighborliness between the peoples that were part of the Soviet Union and are now in independent states. And it is very important that these independent states never become adversaries, but, building on the common experience of living together, can continue to move forward, helping each other, respecting each other and contributing to the common success, — — His Holiness said, congratulating the chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Department with a high award.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
