On May 4, 2025, the Third Sunday after Pascha, dedicated to the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were Bishop Alexiy of Baku and Azerbaijan, Bishop Alexiy of Ramenskoye (Patriarch Kirill’s personal secretary), Archpriest Leonid Milytykh (honorary rector of the cathedral), Archpriest Dionisy Svechnikov (diocesan secretary and head of the Baku Diocese’s information department), Igumen Kirill (Nikitin), Archpriest Alexander Novikov (rector of the Nativity of the Theotokos Cathedral in Baku), and other clergy of the diocese.
Present at the service were Mikhail Evdokimov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Azerbaijan; Dmitry Pinevich, Ambassador of Belarus to Azerbaijan; and Aslan Sultanov, a representative of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Liturgical hymns were sung by the archbishop’s choir of the Cathedral of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women, directed by Vagif Mastanov, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan.
Attending the Liturgy were representatives of the local Cossack community, youth, and public organizations of the Baku Diocese. The service was broadcast live on the “Soyuz” and “Spas” television channels, as well as on the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarchia.ru. The broadcast was also displayed on large screens outside the cathedral for the faithful.
The Gospel was read in both Church Slavonic and Azerbaijani, and several prayers and hymns were also performed in Azerbaijani.
The communion homily was delivered by Archpriest Methodius Efendiyev, rector of the Church of Archangel Michael in Baku and head of several diocesan departments, including charitable and social ministry, cooperation with public organizations, and prison ministry.
At the conclusion of the service, Bishop Alexiy welcomed the Patriarch and presented him with a copy of the first liturgical Gospel in Azerbaijani, published by the Baku Diocese.
Patriarch Kirill then addressed the faithful with his primatial message. As a sign of appreciation for his pastoral service and in honor of his 50th birthday, Bishop Alexiy was awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, 3rd Class. The Patriarch also gifted an icon of the Resurrection of Christ to the cathedral.
All worshippers received small icons of the Resurrection of Christ with the Patriarch’s blessing.
Following the service, Patriarch Kirill met with Russian Ambassador Mikhail Evdokimov at the Orthodox Cultural and Religious Center of the Baku Diocese.
Photos: foto.patriarchia.ru
