An Educational Conference for the Monastics of the Kazakhstan Metropolis Held in Almaty

June 25, 2025. Almaty. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, an educational conference for the monastics of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was held in a hybrid format in the Throne Hall of the Spiritual and Cultural Center of the Kazakhstan Metropolis named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov).

The topic of the academic forum was: “The Essence of the Monastic Struggle in the Modern World.”

The organizing committee for preparing, conducting, and moderating the conference was headed by Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese.

Participants of the academic forum included: Archbishop Varlaam of Pavlodar and Ekibastuz; Archbishop Sebastian of Karaganda and Shakhtinsk; Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk; Archbishop Barsanuphius of Kokshetau and Akmola; Archbishop Vladimir of Petropavlovsk and Bulaevo; Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan; Bishop Ignatius of Aktobe and Kyzylorda; Bishop Chrysanthus of Chimkent and Turkestan; Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; spiritual father of the Almaty Diocese Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov); Abbot Nazarius (Markov), superior of the Spaso-Siluanov Hermitage in Issyk; Abbot Tryphon (Pechkovsky), superior of the Seraphimo-Theognost Hermitage in Aksai; spiritual father of the women’s monastery in Astana dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Lost” Hieromonk Modest (Drozdov); member of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports Abbot Philip (Moiseev); keymaster of the Dormition Cathedral Hieromonk Dimitry (Baydek); Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina), superior of the Iveron-Seraphim Women’s Monastery, with sisters of the community; Abbess Marionilla (Pomelnikova), superior of the Znamensky-Abalatsky Women’s Monastery in Semipalatinsk; Abbess Varvara (Morozova), superior of the Pokrovsky Monastery in Uralsk (Uralsk Diocese); Abbess Olympiada (Salopeko), superior of the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Karaganda (Karaganda Diocese); Nun Sevastiana (Plotnikova), superior of the monastery in Astana dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Lost”; Nun Seraphima (Bolibok), superior of the Petropavlovsk Monastery in Pavlodar (Pavlodar Diocese); and monastics of the Kazakhstan Metropolis.

Opening the plenary session, Bishop Klavdian congratulated those present on the beginning of the conference and read a welcoming address from Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan to the participants of the academic forum:

“In the Orthodox Church, there is a special regard for monastic endeavor. According to the holy fathers and teachers, monasticism is the chief science among all spiritual sciences and the fullness of Christianity. The goal of every truly believing person’s life is a mystical encounter with God, entering into communion with Him, and ultimately theosis – deification.

Every Christian is called to turn away from evil and do good (Psalm 36:27), while a monk is obliged to pursue complete moral perfection. All believers are called to follow the Gospel, but only monks are charged with embodying exalted Gospel ideals in their daily lives. Every person in baptism pledges faithfulness to Christ, but only a monk promises God unwavering adherence to the path of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Every Christian is called to repentance, but for a monk, sorrow for sins must become an unceasing daily labor. This comparison could go on at length. It is no coincidence that the word ‘inok’ – the Church Slavonic synonym for the Greek word ‘monk’ – means ‘one who lives a different life.’

Monasticism represents the highest form of responding to Christ’s call to perfection, self-denial, and bearing the cross.”

The following reports were then presented to the assembly:

• “Contemporary Issues in Monastic Life” – delivered by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan;
• “The Inner Spiritual Life of a Monk as Resistance to the Temptations of the Modern World” – delivered by Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese;
• “Monasticism as a Special Vocation of Service” – delivered by Igumen Trifon (Pechkovsky), Abbot of the Seraphim-Theognost Akzai Hermitage;
• “Temptations and Allurements of the Modern World in the Context of Monastic Struggle” – delivered by Igumen Philip (Moiseev), member of the Patriarchal Commission on Physical Culture and Sports;
• “What Life in Christ Means for Today’s Monastics” – delivered by Hieromonk Philotheus (Bobov), Rector of the Church of the Holy Confessor Nicholas of Alma-Ata in the village of Irgeli;
• “The Consequences of Secularization in Monastic Life” – delivered by Abbess Olympiada (Salopeko), Superior of the Nativity of the Theotokos Convent in Karaganda.

At the conclusion of the forum, participants discussed the presented reports and summarized the results of the conference.

A group photo was taken to commemorate the event.