In Astana, Metropolitan Alexander Held a Meeting Dedicated to the Preparation for the Upcoming Visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to Kazakhstan

August 21, 2025. Astana. At the Spiritual, Cultural, and Administrative Center of the Metropolis of Kazakhstan named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan held a working meeting.

The meeting was dedicated to preparations for the forthcoming Patriarchal visit to Kazakhstan of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, who will arrive in the Republic to participate in the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, to be held in Astana on September 17–18 of this year.

Participating in the meeting were: Archimandrite Sergy (Karamyshev), Dean of the parishes of the Kazakh capital; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek), Sacristan of the Assumption Cathedral; Archpriest Sergy Kaliev, Sacristan of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolis; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service; and staff of the Astana Diocesan Administration.

Before the start of the meeting, the archpastor greeted those gathered and outlined the pressing tasks facing the working group.

The Head of the Metropolis spoke about the program of His Holiness’s visit to Astana: in addition to participating in the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Patriarch will serve a moleben at the Assumption Cathedral, address the clergy and faithful with a Patriarchal message, meet with the hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, and visit the church complex under construction, which includes the Cathedral in honor of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan, the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and a spiritual, cultural, and educational center. It is expected that His Holiness will consecrate the newly built Church of St. Sergius.

After reviewing the information presented by the members of the working group, Metropolitan Alexander offered his proposals regarding the organization of the Patriarchal visit, and then gave the participants the corresponding instructions.