Modern Azerbaijan in accordance with the Constitution - a secular state.Religion and the state officially separated from each other, however, its role in society is quite large.The country has adopted and laws that define the legal status of religion in society and the status of citizens with respect to religion.Azerbaijan, a religion in which the multi-religious, is one of a fairly tolerant states in the inter-religious relations.
To date, the main religion of Azerbaijanis - Shia Islam.This is the religion, according to statistics, more than 99.2% of the population, and there is also a certain part of the population that adhere to the Sunni branch of Islam (about 15%).Islam in Azerbaijan and other countries of the Caucasus Muslim Board headed the Caucasus, which was created on the initiative of Stalin in 1943.The main body of the institution are located in Baku.Since 1980, it is headed by Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade.After the collapse of the USSR and Azerbaijan gained independence, the spiritual organization was given a new name - the Caucasian Muslims Office.Under its jurisdiction in the country is 1,802 mosques, and there are also a mosque in Lankaran (75) and Masalli region (12).
Christian ranks second in Azerbaijan in the number of believers.Both the state of Azerbaijan, religion, Christianity has a long history of more than 2000 years.Its distribution is directly linked to the activity of the apostle Bartholomew.According to legend, he was the first disciple of Christ visited the land and brought it to the people of the Christian faith.In Baku, there is a place where the apostle Varforlomey shed his blood and died for the faith.To this day, this shrine is a place of pilgrimage and worship for two thousand years.The most widely spread of Orthodox Christianity in the territory of present-day Azerbaijan in the 4th century, at the same time was created Autocephalous Church of Albania (the name she received in accordance with the then called these lands - the Caucasian Albania).Now in the country there are 5 Orthodox cathedrals in the capital are 3 of them.
Catholicism appeared later in the country - only in the 14th century, its spread is due to the missionary activities of Catholic orders in the South Caucasus, which is captured and Azerbaijan.Religion Catholicism contributed to the spread of European culture, there were schools, Catholic monasteries.In 2002, Azerbaijan has paid a pastoral visit by Pope John Paul II.Today in Baku there are Catholic churches, shelter, work order of the Sisters of Mercy.
Protestantism in Azerbaijan is represented by 25 communities of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, which recites about 3000 faithful.
Judaism is represented by three Jewish communities, which, despite its territorial fragmentation, are quite influential institution of public life.In particular, she initiated the agency operates in Azerbaijan "for Israel", various organizations and councils to preserve Jewish cultural heritage, religious schools, is actively functioning Jewish Cultural Center.In the capital works 6 synagogues, and the latest of them, which opened in 2003, is considered one of the biggest in Europe.
feature of Azerbaijan is that this camp is preserved as a religious movement Zoroastrianism.Its origins date back to the first millennium, when Zoroastrianism penetrated into Azerbaijan.Zoroastrianism almost a millennium has been the most influential in these lands.Not entirely by chance, perhaps, according to some experts, the name "Azerbaijan" means "Land of Eternal Fire."And today the cultural traditions of Zoroastrianism popular in Azerbaijan.They appear even during the traditional festivals of other religions in the form of games, practices, which are especially popular among young people in rural areas.
