Х Congress of Orthodox Youth of Kazakhstan Begins Its Work

August 8, 2025. Almaty Region. The opening of the 10th Congress of Orthodox Youth of Kazakhstan took place on the grounds of the “8 Lakes” eco-resort. The event was organized with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.

About 200 people are taking part in the congress – delegates from all dioceses of the Metropolitan District, leaders and members of diocesan and parish youth groups, those responsible for organizing youth and educational activities, experts on public, religious, and social issues, as well as guests from Russia and Belarus.

The congress is organized by the Commission on Youth Affairs of the Orthodox Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan and the Orthodox Youth Movement of the Almaty Diocese, with the support of the ELEOS-MEIRIM Public Foundation (director – V. M. Kapsamun).

Speakers at the forum include: Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan; Chairman of the Commission on Youth Affairs of the Metropolitan District, Priest Georgy Rublinsky; Vice-Rector for Educational Work of the Almaty Theological Seminary, Priest Ioann Livinsky; Head of the Biblical-Theological Department, Candidate of Theology, Priest Oleg Lisin; staff member of the Synodal Youth Department, Deacon Yevgeny Yesaulenko; and the author and host of the Orthodox YouTube channel “Seraphim,” S. Sashliyev.

The main goals and objectives of the congress are: the coordination and development of systematic youth work in the Orthodox Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan; the development of forms of volunteer service among young people; the training and professional development of leaders of Orthodox youth associations in Kazakhstan; the creation of new forms of spiritual-educational and missionary activity among non-churched and newly-churched youth; the exchange of experience among leaders of Orthodox youth associations from different countries; and the formation of the position of Orthodox youth on the most pressing issues of public and spiritual life in modern society.

The congress opened with a prayer service before the beginning of any good work, celebrated by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

Afterwards, Metropolitan Alexander addressed the organizers and participants of the youth forum.

“A special responsibility for the future always lies upon the younger generation. And all of you, young men and women, by your words, ideas, actions, and aspirations, are already beginning to determine the reality in which we will live in the near future. Here, perhaps, many have the question: ‘What and how can I, an ordinary person, do for the triumph of love, truth, and faith in this world?’ The Apostle Paul answers this doubt for us: ‘I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me’ (Phil. 4:13). The strength of the younger generation lies in its ability to unite, to be friends, and to solve difficult tasks together. The congress, which we are holding for the tenth time, gives us a wonderful opportunity to unite in the name of noble goals. Each of us is unique, unrepeatable, and each of us has been endowed by God with special talents, gifts, and abilities. In friendly cooperation, in synergy, these gifts are multiplied, acquire strength and energy, and what seemed impossible for one person becomes quite achievable and attainable in a collective of like-minded people,” – the archpastor said, in particular.

The metropolitan wished those gathered fruitful work and blessed success in their good labors and noble undertakings.

Deacon Yevgeny Yesaulenko read to the congress delegates a greeting from Bishop Seraphim of Istra, Chairman of the Synodal Youth Department.

Words of greeting and best wishes were given by a guest of the event – Bishop Ignaty of Aktobe and Kyzylorda, who for many years carried the obedience of Chairman of the Commission on Youth Affairs of the Metropolitan District and was one of the main initiators of the first congress.

Priest Georgy Rublinsky thanked the archpastors for their greetings and informed those present about the program of events of the anniversary forum.

This was followed by the presentation of the participating teams of the 10th Congress of Orthodox Youth of Kazakhstan.

The forum will continue its work until August 11. The organizers have planned lectures on the specifics of working with youth, meetings with clergy of the Almaty Diocese, a meeting with the author of the “Seraphim” YouTube channel S. Sashliyev, discussions on issues relevant to the younger generation, intellectual quizzes, visits to diocesan holy sites, including a pilgrimage to the Seraphim–Theognost Hermitage in the Aksai Gorge – the place of monastic labors and martyrdom of the heavenly patrons of Almaty and all Kazakhstan – the Venerable Martyrs Seraphim and Theognost.