Greeting of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan to the Organizers and Participants of the International Scientific Conference “XXII Almaty Orthodox Educational Readings in Memory of St. Sophonius (Sokolsky), Enlightener of Kazakhstan”

Reverend Fathers, dear brothers and sisters!

I warmly greet the participants and guests of the International Scientific Conference “XXII Almaty Orthodox Educational Readings in Memory of St. Sophonius (Sokolsky), Enlightener of Kazakhstan.”

In keeping with a long-standing tradition, this leading scientific and educational event of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, conducted under the auspices of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, serves as the regional stage of the International Christmas Readings. This year, our conference has received a new name. It will henceforth bear the name of Archbishop Sophonius (Sokolsky)—the first hierarch of the Turkestan Diocese, Apostle of the Great Steppe, and a prominent spiritual enlightener and ascetic of piety of the 19th century. This decision reflects the exceptional significance of his activities in establishing Orthodoxy in Central Asia and coincides with the upcoming 225th anniversary of St. Sophonius’ birth in 2025. Recently, scholars at the Almaty Seminary identified the exact date of this revered hierarch’s birth: July 25 (August 7, New Style), 1800, as recorded in a discovered parish register.

Reflecting on the significant dates that will mark the coming year for the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, we must also remember the 70th anniversary of the repose of St. Nicholas, Metropolitan of Almaty and Kazakhstan, and the 50th anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), a venerable ascetic of piety. We must draw moral lessons from the past, taking these blessed ascetics and righteous ones as examples of steadfast faith, love for Christ, adherence to the truths of the Holy Gospel, and devotion to our native Orthodoxy.

Another special event in the coming year, uniting the peoples of Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and other neighboring countries with a shared historical past, will be the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Events taking place in January as part of the International Christmas Readings in Moscow will focus on the theme, “The 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory: Memory and Spiritual Experience of Generations.”

The theme of Victory holds a special place in our lives, and its memory is cherished by millions of people of goodwill. Time flies inexorably, and each year fewer and fewer living participants and witnesses of those harrowing events remain among us, while falsehoods about World War II increasingly proliferate. Deceptive calls to revise the significance of our people’s triumph over Nazi tyranny are not uncommon. We, as descendants and successors of the victors, bear the responsibility to preserve and pass on to future generations the truth about that period and to counter persistent attempts to rewrite and distort history. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan has emphasized: “In many countries, perceptions of key past events are now being used as tools of informational and political manipulation. As World War II recedes further into history, more myths emerge about it. Kazakhstan has always stood for and will continue to stand for historical truth and the preservation of authentic memory about this bloodiest conflict in human history.”

On June 22, 1941, the forces of Nazi Germany treacherously invaded our country. At this tragic moment, the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), addressed his flock, calling on the people to resist the aggressor: “The wretched descendants of the enemies of Orthodox Christianity are trying once again to bring our people to their knees before falsehood. With God’s help, our people will once again scatter the Nazi enemy force to dust. Let us remember the holy leaders—Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry Donskoy—who laid down their lives for the people and the Fatherland… Our Orthodox Church has always shared the fate of its people. It bore their trials and rejoiced in their successes. It will not abandon its people now. It blesses with its heavenly blessing the forthcoming nationwide endeavor.”

From the war’s outset, the Church called on all people of the country—both those fighting at the front and those laboring at home—to work tirelessly for Victory. The patriotic fervor of the people was accompanied by a spiritual awakening. For centuries, Orthodoxy has provided people with spiritual strength, inspiring ideals of Gospel holiness. Through faith, the people acquired the capacity for heroism, self-sacrifice, and sacrificial love. These noble qualities of the soul shone brightly in the defenders of the homeland and those laboring on the home front during the Great Patriotic War. Solidarity, unity of the people, and their return to spiritual roots became the foundation and source of Victory.

The celebration of Victory Day is one of the most significant events across the shared historical homeland. It helps us recognize our unity and provides a meaningful opportunity to reflect on history, analyze the present, and, of course, think about the future. As His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has stated, “As long as we can soberly evaluate ourselves, we have hope that the lessons of history will be properly understood and that we will be able to preserve the spiritual and cultural heritage left to us by our fathers and grandfathers.” No nation can have a future if it does not carefully preserve in its heart the memory of the past, of the exploits and deeds of its ancestors. Victory strengthened the bonds of friendship among peoples who stood shoulder to shoulder against Nazism, defending their lives and freedom. Today, we must join efforts to preserve the great legacy of the victors and pass it on to the next generation.

One of the goals of our conference is to draw attention to the legacy of the Great Victory and the feats of our righteous predecessors, spiritual teachers, and mentors. Each time we discuss various issues at our meetings and events, we strive to imbue them with valuable content, give new resonance to essential topics, and, most importantly, make progress in addressing the challenges before us.

The lessons of the past compel us to examine ourselves for fidelity to Christ’s commandments, strengthen our souls with pious examples, labor tirelessly for spiritual renewal and the development of church life, and preach the Word of Christ’s Truth to those near and far.

I hope that the XXII Almaty Orthodox Educational Readings will become a notable event in the spiritual life of the Metropolis and will contribute to addressing the important tasks facing the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan.

I wish the participants of the Readings successful and fruitful work.