The Christian community holds a distinctive place in modern Azerbaijani society, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in a congratulatory letter to Pope Francis, on the occasion of Christmas, Olaylar reports.
"Our Christian citizens, who have settled in Azerbaijan and lived here as a family for hundreds of years, play a significant role in the public, political, social, and cultural life of our homeland, contributing greatly to the prosperity of our beloved country. Ancient Christian heritage, shrines, churches, and other places of worship across our territory are protected equally alongside mosques and synagogues by the Azerbaijani state. In the meantime, our country plays an active role in preserving Christian monuments that are considered gems of world cultural heritage, thus promoting intercultural dialogue," said President Ilham Aliyev.
