Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan Visits the Sofrino Church Art and Production Enterprise

June 9, 2026. Sofrino, Moscow Region. Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan visited the Sofrino Church Art and Production Enterprise.

Accompanying the Head of the Metropolitan District were: secretary of the Metropolitan District, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of Russia, member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov; vice-rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, Candidate of Theology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor Hegumen Agafangel (Gagua); head of the protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin; deputy head of the Secretariat of the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation N.V. Parshikova; and assistants to the metropolitan S.V. Sokolov and I.E. Yatsenko.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was welcomed by acting General Director of Sofrino V.A. Levin and members of the enterprise administration.

Together with his companions, the hierarch visited the house church dedicated to St. Seraphim of Sarov at the Sofrino enterprise and venerated the church’s holy objects. Afterwards, accompanied by V.A. Levin, he toured several production workshops. The Head of the Metropolitan District discussed various aspects of manufacturing with the leadership of Sofrino and familiarized himself in detail with the technological processes involved in the production of ecclesiastical goods.

Metropolitan Alexander and Vladimir Anatolyevich discussed cooperation between the enterprise and the dioceses of the Metropolitan District, as well as with the Representation of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan at the Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow, located at the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia.

Discussions also addressed the acquisition of church furnishings for newly constructed churches, in particular for the Cathedral of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan and the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, which form part of the spiritual and cultural center currently being established in Astana with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Alexander and the acting general director exchanged wishes for success in good works and initiatives. The hierarch invoked God’s blessing upon the leadership and employees of the enterprise.