A press conference of the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District was held, dedicated to the upcoming celebration of the Nativity of Christ

5 January 2026. Almaty. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan conducted an online press conference from his office at the spiritual, cultural, and administrative center named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), dedicated to the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

The pre-Christmas event was organized by the Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency.

Participants in the virtual meeting included journalists from state and private media outlets, representatives of news agencies and information-analytical portals, and bloggers.

The event was moderated by J.D. Zeineshev, Director of the Interfax Press Center.

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated media representatives on the civil New Year and the approaching Nativity of Christ and spoke about the essence of the Gospel event being celebrated.

«In the Nativity of Christ, ancient prophecies were fulfilled: the Creator and Lord of the Universe appeared on earth in order to save humanity from the power of hell and deliver it from evil. The accomplished Incarnation is the most important event in the history of the world. For thousands of years people believed in God and worshiped Him, but no one could imagine that the Almighty Creator would become a human being – a helpless infant carried in the arms of His Mother. From the time of the Lord’s coming into the world and to this day, all who believe in Him are granted the opportunity to become children of the Heavenly Father. The Apostle Paul affirms that now we are His own, not strangers to God. And this means that through Him we are all – kin and close to one another», the hierarch said in particular.

The metropolitan drew attention to the need to mark the Christmas season especially through the performance of good deeds. «The celebration of the Nativity of Christ would be improper if we do not share this joy with our neighbors, especially with those in need of consolation and support. Let us strive so that for all of us the festive period may become particularly bright and solemn – through good deeds, through words of consolation and encouragement, through compassion and mercy. Let us extend a hand of help to those who grieve, encourage the downcast, visit the sick, and remember those who are lonely. “Charity, like paradise, is full of blessings, and almsgiving abides forever”, Holy Scripture proclaims to us», the hierarch emphasized.

In continuation of the press conference, journalists were informed that the main Christmas service in the Southern Capital will take place on the night of 6–7 January at the historic and cultural jewel of Kazakhstan – the Ascension Cathedral.

The metropolitan spoke about significant dates of the church calendar that will be observed in 2026. «In 2026, the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan will mark the 60th anniversary of the repose of the Venerable Confessor Sebastian of Karaganda and the 25th anniversary of the discovery of the relics of the Venerable Martyrs Seraphim and Theognostus of Almaty – the heavenly patrons of Kazakhstan. It is essential for all of us to draw life lessons from the past. Great historical figures, ascetics, and righteous ones should become examples for us, people living in the 21st century – models of steadfastness in faith, love for God and neighbor, and fidelity to the commandments», said the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

According to the hierarch, the celebrations will include the bringing of reliquaries with the relics of Kazakhstan’s saints to all regional centers of the Republic, as well as the holding of spiritual-educational, scholarly, and cultural events.

«A special event of the coming year will be the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the return of the Orthodox Church to St Nicholas Cathedral in the city of Almaty, a spiritual and cultural jewel of Semirechye. Today St Nicholas Cathedral is one of the symbols of the revival of Orthodoxy on the land of Kazakhstan and a monument to the courage of hierarchs, clergy, and laity of the 20th century, who boldly confessed the truth of God in the face of militant unbelief», Metropolitan Alexander noted.

At the conclusion of the press conference, the Head of the Metropolitan District congratulated journalists on the New Year and the approaching feast of the Nativity of Christ.