Priest Father Nikolay Kotelnikov murdered in Dagestan Russia 

An Orthodox priest Father Nikolay Kotelnikov was brutally murdered after two churches and a synagogue came under attack on Sunday in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan, Interior Ministry spokesperson Gayana Garieva has said.

Kele-Numaz Synagogue in Derbent

Footage of the Kele-Numaz Synagogue in Derbent, which was attacked by terrorists yesterday, reveals extensive damage. Located in the village of Kele in Dagestan, this synagogue is a vital religious site for the Mountain Jews and is the last remaining synagogue in the autonomous republic.

The left wing of the building is completely burned out. There are no windows, and the facade is covered in soot. Brick fragments are scattered in front of the entrance to the synagogue.

The Jewish community in Dagestan, primarily consisting of Mountain Jews, also known as Tats, traces its origins back to Persian-speaking regions and has lived in the Caucasus since at least the 8th century. Despite geographical and political isolation, the community has preserved its distinct cultural and religious practices.

Historically, Mountain Jews settled in various parts of Dagestan, with significant populations in cities like Derbent and Makhachkala. Dagestan, a republic in Russia’s North Caucasus, is known for its ethnic diversity and predominantly practices Sunni Islam. The region has a complex history of resistance and resilience against various external forces.

Father Nikolay Kotelnikov was brutally murdered

The assailants reportedly broke into an Orthodox church in the city of Derbent and killed the archpriest, Father Nikolay Kotelnikov, by slitting his throat, according to Shamil Khadulaev, the head of the regional Public Oversight Committee, which monitors the observance of human rights in prisons.

A security guard named Mikhail, who worked at the church, was shot by the assailants. He was only armed with a gas pistol, Khadulaev added. Other clergymen locked themselves in the church, waiting for help.

The terrorists attacked the church on Pentecost Sunday, immediately after the evening service and shortly before the church was closed.

The priest who was killed, Father Nikolay Kotelnikov, was 66 years old and seriously ill, according to Shamil Khadulaev. In the 1980s, Father Nikolay was commissioned from the southern Russian city of Stavropol to Dagestan and served at Derbent’s Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He spent a total of 40 years serving there and had a wife, three children, and grandchildren, according to local media reports.

Father Nikolay also reportedly took part in the ceremony of delivering the ‘Holy Fire’ from Jerusalem to Russia.

Deadly assaults on synagogues & Orthodox churches in Russia: As it happened: The attacks on synagogues and Orthodox churches in Russia have left the community in shock. Read more for a detailed account of the tragic events.