Greeting of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan to the Organizers and Participants of the 10th Congress of Orthodox Youth of Kazakhstan

August 8, 2025 By the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, the 10th Congress of Orthodox Youth of Kazakhstan has begun its work.

The Head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, sent his greeting to the organizers and participants of the forum.

Dear brothers and sisters,

I sincerely greet the participants of the 10th Congress of Orthodox Youth of Kazakhstan, including guests from Russia and Belarus.

Our forum is being held in a year marked by several memorable anniversaries – the 225th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle of the Great Steppe, the ever-memorable Archbishop Sophonius (Sokolsky) of Turkestan; the 70th anniversary of the repose in the Lord of the Hieroconfessor Nicholas (Mogilevsky); and the 50th anniversary of the blessed falling asleep of the struggler of piety, Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov). Their names are well known not only to Orthodox believers in Kazakhstan, but also to the faithful in other countries.

When one rereads the memoirs of these great righteous men and ascetics or studies the testimonies of their contemporaries, one notices a remarkable feature – harsh years of trials, and often severe suffering, did not break their spirit or harden their hearts. Amidst difficult circumstances, they consistently preserved kindness and magnanimity. In them abundantly manifested those heavenly gifts listed by the Apostle Paul: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith” (Galatians 5:23).

What gave them strength to live and to transform the world around them through their labors? The answer is clear: firm faith in Christ, Crucified and Risen. It is precisely living faith in God that opens the way for every person to resist evil and to help restore the world.

Upon the younger generation always rests a special responsibility for the future. And all of you – young men and women – through your words, ideas, actions, and aspirations are already beginning to shape the reality in which we will live in the near future.

Here, perhaps, many may ask: “What can I, an ordinary person, do to help truth, love, and faith triumph in this world?”

To such doubts, the Apostle Paul gives us the answer: “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

The strength of the younger generation lies in its ability to unite, to build friendships, and to solve difficult tasks together. The congress, which we are holding for the tenth time, grants us a wonderful opportunity to unite in the name of noble goals.

Each of us is unique and unrepeatable, and each of us has been endowed by God with particular talents, gifts, and abilities.

In cooperative friendship – in synergy – these gifts are amplified, gaining power and energy, and what might seem impossible for a single person becomes fully achievable and attainable in a community of like-minded individuals.

As a kind piece of advice addressed to you, I would like to recall the instruction of a well-known spirit-bearing elder – Schema-Igumen Savva (Ostapenko), who labored in the mid-20th century at the Pskov-Caves Monastery.

During one of our meetings, Father Savva asked me, then still a very young man: “Do you want to be happy?”

After my affirmative answer, the elder spoke simple yet profoundly wise words of the ancient saint, Venerable Pimen the Great:

“Pray much, labor much, and do good to people.”

At times, a person underestimates the power of prayer – but it is precisely sincere, living communion with God that gives one the strength to overcome obstacles, to find the right decisions, and to fully reveal one’s talents.

There is an old instructive story. A fisherman was ferrying a traveler in his boat. The traveler noticed that one oar had “pray” written on it and the other “labor,” and asked: “Why do you have that?”

The fisherman replied: “So I do not forget that I must combine work with prayer and prayer with work.”

The traveler scoffed: “Well, working – that’s understandable, everyone must do that. But prayer? Why waste time on it?”

“Not necessary?” – the fisherman repeated. With those words, he pulled the oar labeled “pray” out of the water and began rowing with only the one that said “labor.”

The boat started spinning in place. “You see? What good is labor without prayer? We just go in circles – no progress forward,” – the fisherman said, instructing his unreasonable companion.

This short parable explains a spiritually significant truth: to sail successfully through the stormy sea of life, one must hold firmly both oars – prayer and labor.

However civilization may develop, however societal priorities may change, the Church of Christ – which means all of us – always remains faithful to its calling, expressed in the words of its Divine Founder:

“Go, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

I extend heartfelt gratitude to all those who labor in the field of Orthodox youth ministry.

My sincere thanks go to the benefactors and organizers of the congress.

I wish the participants of our forum fruitful work and blessed success in their good labors and noble undertakings.