
The Head of the Metropolitan District held an extended meeting of the diocesan council of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese
- 12.12.2024, 17:50
- Новости на английском языке

December 12, 2024. Alma-Ata. In the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan held an extended meeting of the diocesan council of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese.
The meeting was attended by:
– members of the diocesan council: Administrator of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen and Bishop Veniamin of Talgar; Dean of the parishes of Alma-Ata, Rector of the St. Nicholas Cathedral Archpriest Valery Zakharov; Dean of the Astana church district Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev); Chairman of the Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Rector of the Pokrovskaya Church in the Southern Capital, Archpriest Yevgeny Bobylev; Acting Rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District, Archpriest Yevgeny Ivanov; Head of the Public Relations Department of the Metropolitan District, Secretary of the Diocesan Council, Archpriest Alexander Suvorov; Clergyman of the Ascension Cathedral in the Southern Capital, Archpriest Alexander Ievlev; Head of the Commission for Educational Service of the Almaty Diocese, Rector of the Vladimir Church in Chemolgan Station, Archpriest Sergiy Kazimirov; Head of the Commission for Charity and Social Service of the Metropolitan District, Archpriest Vyacheslav Pugachev; key keeper of the Assumption Cathedral in Astana, Archpriest Dmitry Baidek; Archpriest Sergiy Kaliyev, the key keeper of the Constantine and Helen Cathedral;
– members of the diocesan court: Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, vicar of the Astana diocese; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, rector of the church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow"; Archimandrite John (Sazonov), spiritual father of the Almaty diocese; Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov, dean of the Ili church district; Archpriest Georgy Chistyakov, rector of the Cosmas and Damian Church in Almaty.
The meeting was also attended by O.N. Ovchinnikov, secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing.
Metropolitan Alexander summed up the work of the diocesan council for the outgoing year and outlined the main memorable dates that will be celebrated in 2025: the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the canonical status of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; the 225th anniversary of the birth of the first hierarch of the land of Kazakhstan, Archbishop Sophonia (Sokolsky); the 70th anniversary of the death and 25th anniversary of the uncovering of the relics of the holy confessor Nikolai, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan; the 50th anniversary of the death of the confessor of faith and ascetic of piety, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan Joseph (Chernov).
The head of the Metropolitan District announced a list of planned events of a spiritual, educational, scientific and cultural nature that will be held in the diocese.
As part of the celebration of memorable dates in Astana and Alma-Ata, scientific and practical conferences, concerts of choirs and creative groups, and photo exhibitions will be held. The heads of departments and commissions of the diocese were given instructions to prepare for the celebration.
During the meeting, in accordance with the Charter of the diocese, changes were made to the composition of the diocesan council, and new heads of diocesan departments were appointed:
• Priest Georgy Sidorov was approved as the custodian of ancient relics of the Astana and Alma-Ata diocese to ensure the safety of church relics and historical documents;
• Archpriest Alexander Suvorov was appointed acting chairman of the department for relations with the armed forces;
• Deacon Roman Karaman was appointed acting head of the diocesan department for the canonization of saints;
• Priest Georgy Rublinsky was approved as the chairman of the diocesan commission for youth ministry.
His Eminence congratulated the newly appointed heads of the diocesan departments and wished them God's help in carrying out their obediences.
The council members approved the agenda of the upcoming diocesan meeting and recommended appointing Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky) as its secretary.
During the meeting, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan pointed out to the participants the need to expand the presence of parishes and diocesan departments on social networks.
At the end of the meeting, Metropolitan Alexander thanked those gathered and gave everyone an archpastoral blessing.