Metropolitan Alexander Visits the Sofrino Artistic and Production Enterprise

September 29, 2025 – Sofrino, Moscow Region.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the Sofrino Artistic and Production Enterprise.

The Head of the Metropolitan District was accompanied by: Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District, Candidate of Theology; Igumen Agafangel (Gagua), Pro-Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Candidate of Theology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor; Professor N.A. Daikhes, Director of the National Medical Research Center of Otorhinolaryngology of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) of Russia, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation.

Metropolitan Alexander was welcomed by the Acting General Director of the Sofrino enterprise, V.A. Levin, and employees of the factory.

Upon arrival, His Eminence laid flowers at the monument to His Holiness Patriarch Pimen, by whose blessing the enterprise was founded in 1980. The hymn “Memory Eternal” was chanted for the departed Primate.

Thereafter, the hierarch, together with those accompanying him, visited the house church dedicated to St. Seraphim of Sarov located on the grounds of the Sofrino enterprise, where he venerated the sacred relics of the temple. He then familiarized himself with the museum exhibitions of the factory and left an entry in the book of honored guests.

Mr. Levin conducted a tour of the various production departments and provided an overview of the factory’s work. The Head of the Metropolitan District discussed aspects of the manufacturing process and examined in detail the technological procedures involved in producing the factory’s goods.

During the tour, Metropolitan Alexander spoke with staff members and invoked God’s blessing upon the labors of the management and workers.

His Eminence warmly congratulated Vladimir Anatolyevich and the enterprise staff on the 45th anniversary of the beginning of the factory’s operations.

“The Sofrino enterprise was established by the blessing of the ever-memorable His Holiness Patriarch Pimen at the dawn of the revival of the Russian Orthodox Church. Today, it is the largest production complex of the Moscow Patriarchate, renowned far beyond the borders of Russia. The items lovingly and carefully crafted by the Sofrino artisans adorn the churches and monasteries of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan. Thanks to the coordinated work of the management and employees, the enterprise has developed a production culture rooted in the best traditions of ancient ecclesiastical art, where strict adherence to canonical norms is harmoniously combined with the use of modern technologies,” the hierarch noted in particular.

At the conclusion of the visit, Metropolitan Alexander and Mr. Levin exchanged commemorative gifts and conveyed best wishes for continued success in their noble endeavors.