Benefactors of the Moscow Representation of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Awarded Church Honors

November 25, 2024. Moscow. A meeting took place at the Representation of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District on the Patriarchal Compound at the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their Mother Sophia. The meeting was between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and benefactors of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Nikolay Vladimirovich and Olga Vladimirovna Korobovskiy.

The meeting was attended by staff members of the Representation and clergy of the Sophia Church.

Metropolitan Alexander recognized the efforts of the benefactors with high honors of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan: Nikolay Vladimirovich was awarded the Order of the Confessor Nicholas, Metropolitan of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan, while Olga Vladimirovna received the “Enbek Üşin” (For Labors) Order.

Presenting the awards, the hierarch quoted the words of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’: “Those who build and restore churches enter history—not only human history. The names of such people are specially recorded in the Book of Life.” The Metropolitan noted the Korobovskiy family’s active involvement in a spiritually and culturally significant project. “Through your kind support, comprehensive repair and restoration works are being carried out at this historic church on Miusy Square, which since 2012 has been home to the Patriarchal Compound and Representation of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan. These works involve highly skilled specialists. I thank you for all you have done for this church, which next year is preparing to celebrate a special historical milestone—the 35th anniversary of the revival of parish life. There could be no better gift for the Sophia Church than its high-quality, professional restoration,” the archpastor said.

Metropolitan Alexander wished the honorees strength of spirit and body, as well as God’s help in all their good works and endeavors.

During the conversation, the hierarch shared with the guests insights into the life of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, particularly the bringing of the relics of the much-revered Saint Matrona of Moscow into the country, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The Metropolitan noted that more than 300,000 people venerated the relics during their stay in the Republic.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Metropolitan Alexander and the guests of the Representation exchanged warm wishes.