A congratulatory address to Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan from the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of his service on the Kazakhstan archpastoral кафедра

27 March 2026 marks sixteen years since Metropolitan Alexander assumed leadership of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan – the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan. The members of the Synod of the Metropolitan District congratulate the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan on this memorable date:

Your Eminence, dear Vladyka!

Sixteen years ago, on 27 March 2010, on the feast of the wonderworking Feodorovskaya Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, overshadowed by Her maternal protection, you arrived in Alma-Ata and ascended the cathedra of the hierarchs of Kazakhstan.

With humility, fervor of heart, gratitude and full obedience to the will of Christ the Chief Shepherd, you accepted your new ministry. Seeing your many years of archpastoral labors and efforts, your sincere love for Orthodoxy and zeal for the building up of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:12), the Creator and Providence directed you here – to the ancient land of the Great Steppe, entrusted you with the care of the numerous Christian people, and committed to you the guardianship of the rich spiritual heritage of a country rightly called «the antimins spread beneath the open sky».

Your first sacred gift to Kazakhstan was an exact copy of a great Orthodox shrine – the «measure and likeness» of the revealed Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. Since that time, this beautiful icon of the Sovereign Lady has adorned the Ascension Cathedral of Alma-Ata, is venerated by parishioners and brings consolation to pilgrims.

We are all witnesses to how, day by day, you labor on the Kazakhstan land with complete dedication, with an awareness of great responsibility for every word and every decision you make. By your ministry you continue the noble work of your predecessors: the apostle of the Great Steppe – Archbishop Sophrony (Sokolsky); the eminent spiritual enlightener – Bishop Alexander (Kulchitsky); the first martyr of Semirechye – Bishop Pimen (Belolikov); the good laborer in Christ’s field and sufferer for God’s truth – Schema-Archbishop Anthony the New (Abashidze); the God-wise elder hierarchs – Hieroconfessor Metropolitan Nicholas (Mogilevsky) and ascetic of piety Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov).

The life of the Church of Christ in Kazakhstan during the years of your ministry has been marked by vivid events and notable achievements. New churches and spiritual-cultural centers are being built throughout the country, ruined shrines are being restored, spiritual education and enlightenment are developing, youth work and charitable activity are being strengthened. You make visits to all regions of the country, meet with clergy and representatives of state authority, take part in discussing important issues of diocesan and parish life and provide every possible support in resolving them. Hearing your heartfelt words and witnessing your good deeds, people strive to imitate you in firmness of faith, steadfastness of spirit, diligence and industriousness. Your authoritative voice calls people to repentance and salvation, to reconciliation and concord. For everyone who turns to you, you are able to find words of consolation and support.

Having crossed another milestone of your service on the Kazakhstan land, you do not stop, you do not rest on your laurels, but, on the contrary, with renewed energy you build new plans for the development and strengthening of Orthodoxy. All that has been done and accomplished in the field of church ministry you attribute not to yourself, but only to God, the Giver of all good things, and you invariably utter the prayerful appeal of the Psalmist David: «Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake» (Ps. 113:9).

Through the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, whose wonderworking Feodorovskaya Icon we now venerate, and by the prayers of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan, may the All-Merciful Lord strengthen you in the feat of your high and responsible ministry as Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, grant you many years, and bless your labors and undertakings for the glory of the Holy Church.