Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan Blesses Teachers and Students of Alma-Ata Educational Institutions for the Beginning of the New Academic Year

August 30, 2026. Alma-Ata. Following the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the Ascension Cathedral, the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, celebrated a prayer service for the beginning of the new academic year.

Joining the Head of the Metropolitan District in prayer were: Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda; Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Chrysanthus of Shymkent and Turkestan; Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the churches of the Southern Capital and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Alma-Ata; Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), Father Confessor of the Alma-Ata Diocese; Archpriest Alexander Suvorov, Dean of the Ascension Cathedral and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Department for Public Relations; Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary and Head of the Metropolitan District’s Information and Publishing Department; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek), Personal Secretary to the Head of the Metropolitan District; and clergy of the churches of the Southern Capital.

The prayer service was attended by students of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, teachers and pupils of the city’s Sunday schools, as well as students of general education schools and secular educational institutions in Alma-Ata.

The hymns were performed by the Choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District under the direction of O.N. Ovchinnikov, Honored Art Worker of Russia, and the combined children’s choir of the Sunday schools of Alma-Ata under the direction of N. Golovina.

During the prayer service, special petitions were offered that the students might be granted understanding, wisdom, strength and fortitude in acquiring all good and useful knowledge.

At the conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Alexander addressed those gathered with words of guidance, bestowed his blessing upon them, and wished the young people God’s assistance, good health and success in every good endeavor.

“I warmly congratulate all of you on Knowledge Day and the beginning of the new academic year. Today you are entering a new stage of your lives and preparing for important and responsible labors. Students and schoolchildren will have to diligently master various fields of knowledge; teachers and educators will devote their strength to passing on their experience and knowledge to those entrusted to their care; and parents will share in their children’s concerns and achievements and support them in every possible way throughout their studies. All of this must be done together, with mutual respect and great patience, sincerely and diligently helping one another.

“Successful mastery of an academic curriculum is impossible without the proper inner formation of the individual and good relationships between teacher and student, as well as between educators and parents. Therefore, the development of good and highly moral qualities in young people is one of the foremost tasks of modern education, alongside achieving strong academic results.

“Dear students, the benefits of mastering human knowledge are undeniable, but it is no less important for all of us to learn to seek eternal Divine truth. Intellectual abilities and knowledge in themselves, without careful attention to one’s spiritual condition, are of little value. Only by combining knowledge with responsibility, faith in God with profound morality, can a person attain the joy of life, serve his or her Fatherland and bring happiness to loved ones.

“I would like to wish all those who today embark upon the path of education that every moment of this academic year may be filled with eternal meaning; that, while achieving success in mastering their studies, we may measure our progress not only by good grades, but also by our growth in faith and virtue. May life with God serve as the foundation of our inner assessment of ourselves.

“Once again, I congratulate you on this special day and wish all of you good health, peace, strength and success in the labors ahead. May God’s blessing abide with you all.”

From the address of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan on the occasion of Knowledge Day and the beginning of the new academic year.