00:00We are part of this society, and surely we shared the joy and pain, the values of the spiritual values,
00:09the national values.
00:13At a time when religious identity is increasingly at the center of conflicts around the world,
00:19questions about how different faiths can coexist peacefully have taken on renewed significance.
00:25In the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan presents itself as an example of religious diversity,
00:30where Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities have lived alongside one another for centuries,
00:36making multiculturalism a central part of the country's national identity.
00:41Azerbaijan is the country with the huge and very rich Christian heritage, the historical Christian heritage,
00:48and it is accepted, this heritage is accepted by such centers of the Christian faith as the Catholic Church, the
00:58Orthodox Church, the Holy See.
01:01Here in Azerbaijan, this value, this understanding of human dignity is very strong.
01:17Several hundred kilometers away, here in Baku, Christianity takes on a different form.
01:23In the Azerbaijani capital, the Church of the Immaculate Conception serves a small Catholic community,
01:29which consists of expats, foreign workers and locals.
01:50Church leaders say interfaith dialogue extends beyond official meetings and is reflected in everyday life,
01:58where members of different religious communities interact through work, education and charitable initiatives.
02:05I think I am already present 70 years and I can confirm that not only the good relationship
02:13with the Sheikhul Islam, Pasha Zadeon, another religion's leader,
02:17but also with simple Muslims, Jewish and Christian, another domination,
02:25it's a positive impact for my work.
02:39Nowadays, there are many religious communities living together, also Hebrew community,
02:46also Orthodox Christians, also Protestants, Catholics, also Muslim people.
02:51So I think it's a really strong message that it's possible to live and work together.
03:05In northwestern Azerbaijan, the historic Kish Church in Sheki and Gubruk Church in Gak stand as enduring symbols
03:13of the country's rich Christian heritage.
03:18Preserved through centuries, they reflect Azerbaijan's long tradition of religious diversity
03:23and the co-existence of different faiths and cultures.
03:27I would like to describe Azerbaijan a model of multiculturalism as a lived and institutionalized model
03:33based on trust and mutual respect.
03:37So for many centuries, different cultures and religions have lived in these territories side by side
03:42in a peaceful coexistence, not like isolated communities.
03:50Azerbaijan is promoting multiculturalism and interfaith dialogue.
03:54Authorities are investing in the restoration of churches, synagogues and mosques
03:58and partnerships with international institutions, including the Vatican,
04:03a part of a broader strategy of cultural diplomacy.
04:10In September 2025, the Hader Ali Foundation, together with the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science,
04:21signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vatican Apostolic Library and Vatican Apostolic Archive.
04:29So within this memorandum, there are several projects planned, such as the digitization,
04:35the restoration of the manuscripts.
04:38At a time when conflict and division continue to shape many parts of the world,
04:43examples of dialogue and coexistence remain significant.
04:47In Azerbaijan, that message is reflected not only in official initiatives, but also in everyday life.
04:59You
Comments