At the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Benjamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, the head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, visited Azerbaijan to participate in the international summit of religious leaders, “World Religions for a Green Planet.” This summit, held from November 5 to 7 as part of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), brought together delegates from over 50 countries, including representatives from the Russian, Serbian, and Georgian Orthodox Churches.

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, delivered a greeting on behalf of Patriarch Kirill. Before the summit commenced, participants laid flowers at the grave of Azerbaijan’s first president, Heydar Aliyev.

Metropolitan Benjamin, accompanied by Bishop Alexy of Baku and Azerbaijan, also visited the grave of Archbishop Alexander (Ishchein) of Baku and Azerbaijan, who passed away in 2021. During his visit on November 5, he toured the Baku Diocesan Administration and various Orthodox churches in Baku, along with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk and Bishop Alexy of Hvostan, vicar of the Serbian Patriarch.