The head of the Metropolitan District met with guests who arrived to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese

May 19, 2024. Alma-Ata. In the fireplace hall of the spiritual, cultural and administrative center named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan received guests who arrived to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese.

The meeting was attended by: the head of the Altai Metropolis, Metropolitan of Barnaul and Altai Sergius, Bishop of Rybinsk and Romanovo-Borisoglebsk Veniamin (Yaroslavl Metropolis), Bishop of Rubtsovsk and Aleysk Roman (Altai Metropolis), Bishop of Syzran and Shigon Leonty (Samara Metropolis); abbess of the Iversko-Seraphim Monastery of Alma-Ata, abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina), abbess of the Holy Cross Jerusalem stauropegial monastery, abbess Ekaterina (Chainikova) (Moscow diocese), abbess of the Holy Trinity St. Nicholas Monastery in the city of Tashkent, abbess Ekaterina (Malgina) (Tashkent diocese ), abbess Intercession Monastery in the city of Uralsk, abbess Varvara (Morozova) (Ural diocese), abbess of the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery in the city of Karaganda, abbess Olimpiada (Salopeko) (Karaganda diocese), abbess of the Peter and Paul Monastery in the city of Pavlodar, nun Seraphima (Bolibok) (Pavlodar diocese), abbess of the monastery in honor of icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost” of the city of Astana, nun Sevastiana (Plotnikova).

Among the participants in the communication are the rector of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the city of Seaside, California (USA), Archpriest Georgy Kurtov and his wife Mother Elena (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia); Secretary of the Bishops' Council of the Smolensk Metropolis, Archpriest Vasily Movchanyuk, rector of the Church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in the city of Yartsevo, Priest Anthony Tonkovich (Smolensk Metropolis), who arrived to venerate the shrines of the Kazakhstan land.

The meeting was attended by: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; acting rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, head of the information department of the Metropolitan District, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; head of the Metropolitan's personal secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); head of the administrative secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Sidorov; Head of the Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin.

The archpastor shared with the guests information about the main events in the life of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese, which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its establishment, spoke about the implementation of church social, charitable, educational and youth projects and the activities of the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary.

The Metropolitan answered questions from archpastors, clergy and abbess regarding religious life in the country, separately highlighting the topic of cooperation between the state and traditional faiths, primarily Islam of the Hanafi madhhab and Orthodoxy.

In consideration of the work on the revival of monastic traditions and in connection with the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese, the hierarch presented all participants in the meeting with medals “Beibitshilik pen Kelisim” (Peace and Harmony). The hierarchs were presented with signs of archpastoral dignity - crosses and panagias.

As a gift from Metropolitan Alexander, the guests received copies of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Healer”, consecrated from the miraculous image visiting Alma-Ata.

Metropolitan Sergius of Barnaul and Altai presented the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan with an icon of the “Apostle of Altai” - St. Macarius (Nevsky), Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna, as a prayerful memory.

As a gift to the Astana diocese, Bishop Roman of Rubtsovsky and Aleisky donated a copy of the great Altai shrine - the Korobeinikovskaya-Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, glorified by miracles at the beginning of the twentieth century in the village of Korobeinikovo, Ust-Pristansky district, Altai Territory.

Bishop Leonty of Syzran and Shigon presented Metropolitan Alexander with a copy of the Feodorovsky image of the Queen of Heaven, revered in the Samara region, revealed in 1713 at a water source near the Kashpir fortress.

From the abbess of the monasteries, Abbess Ekaterina (Chainikova) of the Holy Cross Jerusalem Stavropegic Monastery warmly thanked the Metropolitan for the opportunity to visit Alma-Ata and venerate the shrines of Kazakhstan. Mother presented the Metropolitan with the Jerusalem icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and an Easter egg.

In recognition of their work on the spiritual and moral education of children, Metropolitan Alexander awarded the spouses with many children - Archpriest Georgy and Mother Elena Kurtov - the Order of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan “Parental Glory”.

A group photo was taken as a souvenir.