Metropolitan District

The history of Orthodox theological education in Kazakhstan began in the second half of the 19th century, in 1871, when Bishop Sophonia (Sokolsky) was appointed to Turkestan. The light of spiritual enlightenment in these lands was further carried by Bishop Neophyte (Nevodchikov), Bishop Gregory (Poletayev), Bishop of Turkestan and Tashkent Nikon (Bogoyavlensky), and Turkestan Saint Bishop Dimitry (Abashidze). Significant contributions to theological education were made by priests arriving from the dioceses of Tomsk, Orenburg, Ufa, Novgorod, Kazan, Voronezh, and Volyn.

By the early 20th century, 391,000 Orthodox Christians resided in the Central Asian region, and there were 306 churches. Thus, in 1897, Bishop of Turkestan and Tashkent Nikon (Bogoyavlensky) petitioned the Holy Governing Synod to open a theological seminary in the Turkestan diocese with a special program that included studying the languages of the region's peoples. However, the lack of funds and teaching staff prevented these plans from being realized.

Bishop Dimitry (Abashidze), who served in the Turkestan See from 1906 to 1912, also considered the creation of a seminary a priority. He rightly believed that for the development of church life and the strengthening of Orthodoxy in Turkestan, it was preferable to have clergymen native to the region, familiar with its language and customs.

On August 5, 1910, the Synod deemed the opening of a theological seminary in the city of Verny "highly desirable." By early 1912, projects for the seminary buildings with a house church were developed. According to the project, the theological school in Verny was to be a student campus, including not only the church and academic buildings but also various facilities such as a library, assembly hall, dormitories for students, and apartments for the administration and faculty.

However, in 1912, Bishop Dimitry (Abashidze) was transferred to the Tavrida and Simferopol See, and the catastrophic events of the 20th century postponed the issue of opening a seminary in Verny for a long time.

Almaty Theological Seminary
Only in 1991, by the decision of the Holy Synod No. 225 on January 29, was the diocesan theological school (AEDU) opened in Almaty, marking a new period in the history of Orthodox theological education in Kazakhstan. Initially, the school was located at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty, offering a two-year program. In 1996, the city authorities provided the school with an empty building at 29 Dorozhnik microdistrict. In the same year, a church was opened at AEDU in honor of St. Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, where students regularly began to conduct liturgical practices and deliver sermons. Later, after AEDU was transformed into the Almaty Seminary, the main scientific-practical conference of the theological school was named after St. Philaret of Moscow.

Archbishop Alexy (Kutepov) of Almaty and Semipalatinsk (now Metropolitan of Tula and Efremov).At the forefront of the establishment of Orthodox theological education in the Republic of Kazakhstan was Archbishop Alexy (Kutepov) of Almaty and Semipalatinsk (now Metropolitan of Tula and Efremov). Archbishop Alexy sought to instill the pious traditions of Moscow theological schools in the educational institution he was creating.

From its opening until 1998, the rector of the school was a graduate of the Moscow Theological Academy, candidate of theology, and rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Protopriest Valery Zakharov.

In 1999, Archbishop Alexy became the rector of the theological school, holding this position until his appointment to the Tula See. 

On July 17, 2001, the Holy Synod's decision extended the study period at the Almaty Diocesan School to four years.

Metropolitan Methodius (Nemtsov) of Astana and Almaty (now Metropolitan of Perm and Kungur).

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.
The year 2010 was significant for Orthodox education in Kazakhstan. At the initiative of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Almaty Diocesan Theological School was transformed into the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary. The Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan acquired its higher theological educational institution.

Archimandrite Gennady (Gogolev) (now Bishop of Kaskelen.
The first rector of the seminary was a graduate of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, candidate of theology, Archimandrite Gennady (Gogolev) (now Bishop of Kaskelen, Vicar of the Astana Diocese). Before his new appointment and subsequent episcopal consecration, Archimandrite Gennady had been the rector of the Kostroma Theological Seminary for almost fifteen years. The first entrance exams were held in September 2010, with 38 students from all dioceses of Kazakhstan admitted to the first year of the full-time and part-time departments.

On September 1, 2016, the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary received a license to conduct educational activities in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, marking the first significant step in synchronizing Orthodox theological education with the higher education system of Kazakhstan.

In 2022, the Almaty Seminary moved to new buildings located next to the cultural-educational and administrative center of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) and the Iversko-Seraphim Monastery. The buildings were donated to the theological school through the petition of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan by benefactors of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. The classrooms were equipped with specialized furniture and technical teaching aids to provide students with visual information.

By the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander, the Matroninskaya Church of the Iversko-Seraphim Monastery of the Southern Capital was designated as the church of the Almaty Theological Seminary.

Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov.
On December 29, 2022, Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, head of the information and publishing department of the Metropolitan District, was appointed acting rector of the seminary.

Today, the Almaty Seminary is a higher spiritual educational institution that prepares clergy, choir directors, and psalmists for Kazakhstani parishes. The study period at the seminary in the pastoral department is 5 years (preparatory course + 4 years of the main course), and in the choir director's department – 3 years. Throughout the entire study period, students master the main body of theological sciences, including doctrinal disciplines, theology, biblical studies, church history, ancient and new languages. The seminary has established biblical-theological, church-historical, and church-practical departments. This year, new disciplines were introduced, such as "Psychology," "SMM Technologies," "Journalism," "Jurisprudence," and "Economics."

Seminary graduates write and defend thesis works and receive qualifications as specialists in the field of Orthodox theology. Successful graduates enter the graduate programs of the theological academies of the Russian Orthodox Church.