Metropolitan Alexander Blesses the Foundation Stone of a Spiritual, Cultural and Youth Centre at the Kazan Cathedral in Almaty

November 4, 2026. Almaty. Following the Divine Liturgy at the oldest church in the southern capital, which was celebrating its patronal feast, a foundation stone was laid for a spiritual, cultural and youth centre dedicated to St. Spyridon of Trimythous.

The blessing of the foundation stone was performed by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

Among those praying at the service were Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Archpriest Valery Zakharov, Dean of the Churches of Almaty and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral; Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyov, Rector of the Almaty Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”; Archimandrite Joseph (Eremenko), Head of the Diocesan Department for the Canonization of Saints; Archimandrite Geronty (Borisevich); Archpriest Alexander Zyryanov, Dean of the Ili Church District; Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek), Secretary to the Head of the Metropolitan District; Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), Acting Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Metropolitan District; Priest Georgy Rublinsky, Rector of the Kazan Cathedral; Hieromonk Cherubim (Levin); clergy of the churches of Almaty; V.M. Kapsamun, President of the Eleos-Meirim Public Foundation; staff members of the Almaty Diocesan Administration; parishioners of the Cathedral; and Orthodox residents of the southern capital.

Before the beginning of the service of supplication, the Head of the Metropolitan District addressed those assembled, emphasizing the importance of establishing a special spiritual and educational institution where adults and children would be able to acquire a broad range of knowledge about Orthodoxy, the history of their native country, and Kazakhstan’s rich cultural and historical heritage.

“We are now about to perform a very important act - to bless the foundation of a future spiritual and educational centre, which will house a Sunday school with classrooms and facilities for gatherings of Orthodox youth.

“Receiving a basic spiritual education enables children and adults to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of Orthodox worship, to develop a love for its heavenly beauty, and to become not merely nominal but true members of the Church of Christ.

“The future centre will be of particular importance to the younger generation. In today’s world, where young people face numerous moral challenges and conflicting values and directions in life, it is especially important to create conditions for their spiritual development, meaningful fellowship, and the realization of the abilities bestowed upon them by God.

“We hope that here young men and women will acquire not only the necessary knowledge but also good friends, experience in working together and serving the Church, and the ability to measure their actions against the commandments of the Gospel.

“For our task is not simply to attract young people to church, but above all to help them acquire a living faith, understand their place in the Church, and make Christian values a firm foundation for the rest of their lives,” Metropolitan Alexander noted in his address.

After offering the prescribed prayers, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan sprinkled the construction site, the clergy and the faithful with holy water.

In the presence of the clergy and the faithful, Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service, read aloud the foundation charter of the spiritual, cultural and youth centre, signed by the Head of the Metropolitan District. The document was placed in a metal capsule and deposited in a specially prepared recess in the foundation of the future building.

The Spiritual, Cultural and Youth Centre dedicated to St. Spyridon of Trimythous will become a place for spiritual enlightenment, education, creativity and fellowship for children, young people and adults.

The building will house a Sunday school with classrooms and music rooms, facilities for youth gatherings and various initiatives, an assembly hall, a sports hall, an icon-painting workshop and a music recording studio. The project also includes rooms for classes, meetings and spiritual and educational discussions, as well as facilities for communal meals.

The construction of the centre will mark an important step in the development of parish life, creating new opportunities for the spiritual and moral education of the younger generation, the preservation of Orthodox traditions and the strengthening of the Kazan Cathedral community.

The new building on the grounds of the oldest church in the southern capital will be constructed with the support of the Eleos-Meirim Public Foundation (President - V.M. Kapsamun).

Video coverage of the blessing ceremony was provided by Semirechye, the television studio of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan (Director - V.L. Posadneva, Honoured Worker of Culture), for the Semirechye YouTube channel. Photographs were taken by A. Shcheglov.