Students of Azerbaijan Institute of Theology visit the Catholic church

First-year students of Azerbaijan Institute of Theology (AIT) visited the Church of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception.

Students were informed about the Church of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception and the history of Christianity in Azerbaijan. It was stressed that after the country gained independence, the state created equal conditions for all religious communities including Catholic community and restored the church.

It was further noted that the construction of the church of the Immaculate Conception was finalized in February, 2007. It holds 250-300 persons to worship. The opening of the church of the Immaculate Conception was attended by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State in March 2008. The opening was also attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, Chairman of the of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikh ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, Archbishop of Baku and Azerbaijan eparchy Alexander Ishein, heads of religious communities, representatives of diplomatic corps and foreign guests. It was also stressed that the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti attended the first prayer in 2007.

Josef Marek, representative of Roman Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, responded to questions from students about Christian belief and prayers, Christian communities in Azerbaijan and the experience of coexistence in terms of tolerance and multiculturalism.