The Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Discussed Current Issues of Monastic Life with the Abbess of the Capital’s Monastery of the Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost”

On February 18, 2026, in Astana, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan held a meeting with Abbess Sevastiana (Plotnikova), the superior of the Monastery of the Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost” in the city of Astana.

Also present at the meeting was Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District.

Metropolitan Alexander warmly congratulated the abbess on the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost” – the wonderworking image of the Queen of Heaven in whose honor the monastery was named at the time of its foundation by the ever-memorable Archimandrite Kirill (Borodin). The hierarch wished the abbess and the sisters strength, spiritual joy, and zeal in prayerful labor and in carrying out their monastic obediences.

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan held a working discussion with the abbess on current matters of monastic life. Among the key topics were the expansion of spiritual and educational activities and the development of pilgrimage to the wonderworking Pochaev–Tselinograd Icon of the Mother of God – a venerated copy of the revealed Pochaev Icon of the Queen of Heaven preserved in the monastery.

The metropolitan, the dean, and the abbess also discussed issues related to restoration work in the monastery’s Church of St. Alexander Nevsky, which recently marked the 45th anniversary of its consecration, as well as in the abbot’s and sisters’ residential buildings. Metropolitan Alexander emphasized the need for serious preparation to properly mark the historically significant date – the 100th anniversary of the birth of the ever-memorable founder of the monastery, Archimandrite Kirill (Borodin), which will be commemorated in 2030.

The Head of the Metropolitan District noted the importance of preserving in the monastery, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, the ancient traditions of piety bequeathed by its founders, confessors of the faith of the twentieth century.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Alexander imparted his archpastoral blessing to Abbess Sevastiana (Plotnikova) and the sisters of the monastery for the forthcoming days of Great Lent.