The Assumption Cathedral in Astana was visited by Catholic Bishop Slawomir Oder, a postulator in the process of canonization of Pope John Paul II

February 25, 2024. Astana. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, at the invitation of the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Metropolitan Archbishop Tomas Bernard Pat, visited the curia (diocesan administration) at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Archbishop Tomas Peta introduced a distinguished guest, Roman Catholic Bishop from Poland Slawomir Oder, to the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. Bishop Slawomir is the postulator (the person responsible for preparing and carrying out the beatification and canonization) of Pope John Paul II.

The meeting was attended by: the dean of the parishes of Astana, Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev); staff of the curia.

The guest from Poland told Metropolitan Alexander about his work as a postulator of the pontiff revered by the Catholic world, noting that since 2020 he has also been a postulator for the cause of the beatification of the parents of John Paul II - Emilia and Karol Wojtyla.

The meeting participants talked about the official visit of John Paul II to Kazakhstan, which was memorable for the people of Kazakhstan, which took place in 2001, on the 10th anniversary of the independence of the Republic. According to the Catholic side, this event played a special role in establishing intercivilizational, interreligious and interfaith dialogue in the international political arena, as well as in strengthening the partnership between Kazakhstan and the Vatican.

During the conversation, the parties exchanged views on the state of inter-Christian and inter-religious relations in Kazakhstan. Bishop Slawomir was told about the work of the Council of Traditional Christian Denominations of Kazakhstan, created with the aim of developing cooperation between followers of Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Lutheranism.

Metropolitan Alexander invited Archbishop Tomas to events dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese, which will take place in May and September of this year in Almaty and Astana.

At the end of the conversation, Metropolitan Alexander, Archbishop Tomas and Bishop Slavomir exchanged wishes for health and success in their work.

At the invitation of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Bishop Slawomir Oder visited the Assumption Cathedral and the spiritual, cultural and administrative center of the Metropolitan District named after Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius. A tour of the country’s main church and spiritual and cultural center was given to the guest by Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev) and the cathedral’s sergeant, Archpriest Dimitry Baidek.