Historically, the territory of the diocese was part of the Diocese of Astrakhan. In 1842, after the formation of the Diocese of Stavropol [ru], the territory of the current Makhachkala diocese became part of it.[citation needed]
On 26 December 2012, the Holy Synod formed the independent Makhachkala diocese, separated from the Vladikavkaz diocese,[2] with its seat in Makhachkala and with the inclusion of parishes and monasteries in Dagestan, Ingushetia and Chechnya.[3]
On 5 October 2015, Bishop Barlaam (Ponomaryov) [ru] of Makhachkala and Grozny led a religious procession in the city of Kizlyar,[4] which became the first in Dagestan in recent history. The procession, timed to coincide with the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the repose of Equal-to-the-ApostlesPrince Vladimir and the 280th anniversary of the founding of the city,[4] brought together about 1,000 Orthodox believers who walked a total of about three kilometers.[4]
The Makhachkala deanery unites churches on the territory of Dagestan,[11] with the exception of the three northern regions. The borders of the deanery coincide with the borders of the Republic of Dagestan, except for the northern one, which runs along the Terek River.