Under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, entrance examinations were held at the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary

August 30, 2024. Entrance examinations were held at the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary.

The certification committee, chaired by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, included: Acting Rector of the Theological School, Archpriest Yevgeny Ivanov, Honored Artist of Russia, Professor of the Church Practical Department O.N. Ovchinnikov; Vice-Rector for Educational Work, Priest John Livinsky; Vice-Rector for Academic Work, Priest Pyotr Bakhtiyarov; Vice-Rector for Research, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences A.P. Soloviev; Head of the Public Relations Department of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Key Priest of the Cathedral, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov; Head of the Biblical and Theological Department, Candidate of Theology Priest Oleg Lisin; Head of the Church History Department Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya; Head of the Church Practical Department V.P. Pashkov; Head of the Correspondence Department Priest Daniil Bobylev; Head of the Chancellery of the Theological School Priest Alexander Shishlov; Head of the Department of Culture of the Metropolitan District, Head of the Choir Department of the APDS L.E. Goricheva.

Applicants to the Pastoral and Choir Departments, who arrived from the dioceses of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, passed a written exam in Russian and a musical audition.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Head of the Metropolitan District addressed the teachers with a welcoming speech, after which Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov announced the agenda.

Then the admissions committee interviewed the applicants. The applicants demonstrated their proficiency in Church Slavonic, knowledge of the basics of the Orthodox faith, recitation of morning and evening prayers, troparia of the twelve great feasts and common prayers.

After the results were announced, His Eminence gave an archpastoral blessing to the new applicants, talked with the students and chaired a meeting of the Academic Council, where current issues of the seminary's life were discussed.