On June 23, 2026, the second anniversary of the 2024 terrorist attacks, the Makhachkala Diocese commemorated the victims.
Priest Vladimir Filchakov, rector of the church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir of Makhachkala, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Assumption Cathedral in Makhachkala. At the end of the Liturgy, a memorial service was held at the grave of the servant of God Michael, a guard of the cathedral, who died at the hands of the villains.
In the Church of the Intercession in Derbent, the Divine Liturgy was led by the secretary of the diocese, Priest Pavel Kalikin.
At the end of the Liturgy, a memorial service was held for the victims of the terrorists. Father Pavel spoke before the funeral service.
Then, a litiya was celebrated at the grave of Archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov, who was buried behind the altar of the Intercession Church. Hieromonk Siluan preached to the worshippers.
In conclusion, the mayor and rector of the Intercession Church laid flowers at the cross on the grave of the ever-memorable Archpriest Nicholas.
Then Khanlar Pashabekov, priest Mikhail Lobov, representatives of law enforcement agencies, religious and public figures of the city paid tribute to the memory of the Interior Ministry employees who took the brunt of the terrorists on June 23, 2024. The participants laid flowers at the memorial of Glory on the territory of the Department of Internal Affairs. As a sign of remembrance, the children released white balloons into the sky.
Also on this day, the clergy of the Makhachkala diocese visited the city of Izberbash, where they celebrated a litany at the altar of the church of St. Seraphim of Sarov Maxim Shalnov, who died on June 23, 2018.
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Nikolai Mikhailovich Kotelnikov was born on February 4, 1955 in the village of Ordzhonikidzevskaya (now the city of Sunzha, Republic of Ingushetia) in the family of collective farmers Mikhail Dmitrievich and Nina Alekseevna Kotelnikov. He lost his father early and was raised by his mother and grandmother.
In 1974, Nikolai Mikhailovich graduated from Ordzhonikidze Railway College. In 1974-1975 he served in the Soviet Army. After demobilization, he entered the Stavropol Theological Seminary.
The spiritual mentor of the future pastor was Archpriest Peter Sukhonosov (+1999), rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ordzhonikidzevskaya village, who was abducted by terrorists on March 28, 1999.
In 1977, Bishop Anthony of Stavropol and Baku (Zavgorodny; +1989) ordained Nikolai Mikhailovich to the priesthood. The young priest was appointed rector of the Church of the Sign in Khasavyurt, where he served for two years.
In 1979, the priest was transferred to the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in Derbent, where he served until the end of his days. In 1999, Father Nicholas was appointed confessor of the clergy of the Baku-Caspian Diocese. He was actively involved in educational activities, taught at a local Sunday school and regularly participated in interreligious conferences.
For his many years of diligent service at the throne of God, Archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov was awarded liturgical awards: a breechcloth (1980), a pectoral cross (1992), a club (1998), a cross with ornaments (2005), a mitre (2012), as well as the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the royal gates open before the Cherubic Song (2017).
Father Nicholas was highly respected not only by Christians, but also by Muslims and Jews. It was he who became the prototype of the Orthodox priest for the monument in the center of Derbent, symbolizing fraternal relations between followers of three traditional religions, where an Orthodox priest, Akhund and a rabbi are depicted together.
On June 23, 2024, Archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov was brutally murdered by terrorists outside the Church of the Intercession. On June 26, the priest was buried behind the altar of the temple.
He was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Order of Courage (posthumously).