The Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Met with the Singers of the Byzantine Choir of the Holy Mountain Athos

May 9, 2026. Alma-Ata. A meeting between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and the singers of the Byzantine choir of the Holy Mountain Athos took place in the throne hall of the spiritual, cultural and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov).

The renowned choir, well known in Greece and the Balkans, headed by its conductor – Schema-monk Damaskinos (Simeonidis), protopsaltis and typikon keeper of the New Skete of the Monastery of St. Paul – arrived in the Southern Capital of Kazakhstan to participate in the International Music Festival “Paschal Hymn.”

The initiator of the visit was the president of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” V.M. Kapsamun, who also attended the meeting.

Among those present were: Archbishop Amfilokhiy of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk; Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen; Bishop Irenei of Orsk and Gai; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; rector of the St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in Uralsk Archimandrite Feodosiy (Kuryanov); conductor of the choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, member of the Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ for the Development of Russian Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov; rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary and Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; head of the personal secretariat of the Metropolitan Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District Priest Georgy Sidorov.

Before the beginning of the meeting, V.M. Kapsamun introduced the guests to the Head of the Metropolitan District and expressed words of gratitude to the archpastor for the reception and the opportunity for cordial fellowship.

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated the singers on the radiant feast of Pascha, the salvation-bringing Resurrection of Christ, and on Victory Day over Nazi Germany.

The hierarch spoke about the cultural life of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and the activities of the metropolitan choir under the direction of Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov.

During the conversation, the archpastor gave examples of various spiritual and educational projects being carried out in the dioceses of Kazakhstan. The Metropolitan noted that church choral singing plays an important role in preserving the traditions of Orthodoxy in the country and unites active believers, especially young people, in both urban and rural parishes.

The participants in the meeting emphasized that musical art, bearing within itself a profound spiritual and moral foundation, is a unique force capable of uniting people of different nationalities and convictions.

His Eminence shared impressions from his pilgrimages to the Holy Mountain Athos:

“Fourteen times the Lord granted me the opportunity to visit the ‘Garden of the Mother of God.’ My first encounter with Athos took place shortly after my ordination to the priesthood in 1984. Visiting the monasteries, venerating the holy things, and communicating with great ascetics of piety and heroes of the spirit filled me with an extraordinary feeling. A special spirit is present in all the monasteries of this holy place. Outwardly, it is manifested in the appearance of the monastics, in the strict adherence of the brethren to the ancient traditions of the Holy Mountain, and in the rhythm of life according to a special Byzantine time. At the same time, each monastery is unique, bearing the vivid imprint of its own rich history connected with a particular Orthodox country, people, and culture.”

The interlocutors also touched upon the theme of the spiritual connection between Athos and the land of Kazakhstan.

Schema-monk Damaskinos (Simeonidis) informed the hierarch about the activities of the Byzantine choir and its repertoire. The Head of the Metropolitan District was told about the choir’s participation in services on the Holy Mountain and in churches in Greece, as well as performances at church and public events.

The guests shared with Metropolitan Alexander their impressions from their first visit to Alma-Ata and their acquaintance with the city’s principal shrines and landmarks.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Head of the Metropolitan District presented commemorative gifts to Schema-monk Damaskinos and the singers of the Byzantine choir.