Bishop Alexander of Baku and Caspian region appealed to Moscow Orthodox Church and Baku Office of Interfax news agency and protested against the launch of construction of a Russian church in Stepanakert (called Khankendi by Azerbaijanis). They argue that the construction is realized without Azerbaijan's permission.
NKR Foreign Ministry reports that the groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Moscow Patriarchate Priest Alexander Vasyutin, NKR President Bako Sahakyan and leader of the Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Bishop Alexander of Baku and Caspian region personally telephoned Moscow Patriarchate to express his displeasure about Priest Alexander's participation in the ceremony.
"Each religious temple can be built in Azerbaijan's territory only by permission of Azerbaijani Government", Bishop Alexander said while taking stance on construction of Church in honor of Saint Mary in Khankandi.
"Nagorno Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan. Each temple - either Orthodox, or Catholic, or Moslem mosque etc, can be built only by the permission of Azerbaijani Government. However, the groundwork of orthodox church in Khankandi has been laid without the permission of Azerbaijan. Some kind of community may be recorded there, but one must have permission for construction in this territory", he said.
Presently, a wooden cross stands in the place of future church.
