Greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese

Your Eminence, Metropolitan Alexander!

Beloved in the Lord, archpastors, all-honorable fathers,
God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

On the bright days of Easter, the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan celebrates a significant date - the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese.

The blessed land of Kazakhstan is especially dear to our Church: in the tragic twentieth century, during the years of difficult trials and persecution of the faith, it revealed a whole host of martyrs and confessors who suffered for Christ and made their robes white in the Blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14).

The Astana and Alma-Ata diocese sets a model for the development of church work with Orthodox youth, spiritual, educational and social activities in other regions, makes a significant contribution to the establishment of traditional moral values in society, the creation of peace and civil harmony in the lives of people, the preservation of a rich cultural heritage of multinational and multi-religious Kazakhstan. With great gratitude I would like to note the kind attention of the President of the Republic Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev to the needs of the country's Orthodox believers.

The celebration of the current anniversary is marked by the bringing to the Metropolitan District of the revered miraculous image of the Most Holy Theotokos “Healer”. May the Protection of the Queen of Heaven remain over all the children of the Church living in the Republic. I wish all Orthodox Christians of Kazakhstan strength of mental and physical strength, peace and abundant mercies from Christ the Giver of Life, Risen from the Dead.

+ KIRILL,
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL Rus'