Video: Prayer for 'Victorious Heydarovich' During Service at Baku's Russian Orthodox Church

A video has surfaced on several Telegram channels today, showing a clergyman from the Russian Orthodox Church conducting a religious service and offering a prayer of thanksgiving that mentions Azerbaijan's President, referred to by the clergyman as the 'victorious supreme commander Ilham Heydarovich' Aliyev.

The footage has circulated in both Armenian and Russian Telegram spheres. According to reports, the controversial video was filmed at the Russian Orthodox Church in Baku.

Dmitri Kasparov, a clergyman from the Russian Orthodox Church, commented on the Armenian Military Portal Telegram channel, stating that the actions of the clergy in Baku contradict the generally accepted practices of the Russian Orthodox Church in such situations. 'In such cases, it is customary to maintain a neutral position, as there are Orthodox Christians in both Armenia and Baku,' he said.

Kasparov also emphasized that he believes that 'the opinions and actions of the Baku Diocese should be distinguished from the position of the Russian Orthodox Church.'