On May 3, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in Baku. At Heydar Aliyev International Airport, he was welcomed by Bishop Alexy of Baku and Azerbaijan, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Evdokimov, and Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Religious Affairs Sahib Naghiyev. 

On the same day, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with Patriarch Kirill, warmly recalling his previous visits and emphasizing Azerbaijan’s multicultural environment and the peaceful coexistence of various religious communities. 

During the meeting, President Aliyev highlighted the Orthodox community’s active role in Azerbaijan’s public and cultural life, noting that religious tolerance is a core principle of state policy and a deeply rooted tradition. Patriarch Kirill praised the country’s atmosphere of interfaith harmony and conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin, extending an invitation to President Aliyev to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Victory over Fascism in Moscow. 

Following the discussions, Patriarch Kirill awarded the Saint Princess Olga Order, First Degree, of the Russian Orthodox Church to Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in recognition of her contributions to preserving traditional values and promoting intercultural dialogue. Mehriban Aliyeva expressed gratitude for the honor, after which the parties exchanged keepsakes.