Metropolitan Alexander Presents Church Awards to Employees of the Almaty Diocese Marking Personal Milestones in 2024

December 31, 2024. Almaty.

At the administrative and spiritual-cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolis named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), a ceremony was held to present church awards to employees of the Almaty Diocesan Administration who celebrated jubilees and significant personal milestones during the past year.

The ceremony was led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

In attendance were Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolis, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; Acting Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolis, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; Head of the Metropolitan’s Personal Secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis, Priest Georgy Sidorov; Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service, Protodeacon Roman Golovin.

In recognition of their labors for the benefit of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, employees of the Almaty Diocesan Administration N.I. Yemelyanova and T.Yu. Raspopova were awarded the “Enbek Ushin” (For Labors) Order.

Metropolitan Alexander warmly congratulated the awardees on the upcoming New Year and Christmas and expressed gratitude for their dedication:

“With gratitude, I would like to acknowledge your labors for the benefit of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan. You diligently serve within the walls of the Almaty Diocesan Administration, responsibly fulfilling the tasks entrusted to you. Your zeal, serious attitude towards your work, industriousness, and responsiveness have earned you well-deserved respect from the administration’s leadership and staff. I wish that the gifts of the Holy Spirit may increase in your heart: ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness’ (Gal. 5:22). I offer prayers to the new martyrs and confessors of Christ who shone forth on the land of Kazakhstan for your health and well-being. May the All-Merciful Lord grant you strength of soul and body and preserve you for many and blessed years.”