The Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary Received a Candidate of Theology Diploma

September 30, 2025 – Moscow. At the Education Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, in accordance with the resolution of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, a diploma and badge of Candidate of Theology were presented to Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary.

The academic award was presented by Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Education Committee.

The defense of Fr. Evgeny’s dissertation on the topic “The Russian Orthodox Church in the Kazakh SSR in 1943–1991: Church–State Relations, Diocesan Administration, Parish Life” was successfully held on April 28, 2025, at the Dissertation Council for Candidate Degrees at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral School.

The ceremony was attended by: the Head of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan; the seminary’s Vice-Rector, Candidate of Theology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Igumen Agafangel (Gagua); Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov.

Archpriest Maxim Kozlov congratulated Fr. Evgeny and wished him God’s help in his labors for the benefit of the Church of Christ.

After the presentation, a meeting was held between the Chairman of the Education Committee and Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

The hierarch spoke about the work of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary – the principal educational institution of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan.

His Eminence informed Fr. Maxim about the celebrations in the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District marking the 225th anniversary of the birth of the ever-memorable Archbishop Sophonius (Sokolsky) – a prominent Church figure and spiritual enlightener of the 19th century, Apostle of the Great Steppe, and the first hierarch of the Turkestan Diocese.

Archpriest Maxim informed Metropolitan Alexander about the current work of the Education Committee, relevant measures for the development of the theological education system, and plans for supporting seminaries operating outside Russia.

The participants of the meeting discussed the prospects of signing a cooperation agreement between the Ss. Cyril and Methodius General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral School and the Almaty Seminary, which would provide academic and methodological support to the Kazakh theological school from the GCPDS.

At the end of the conversation, the parties exchanged wishes for good health and success in their labors.