Participants of the “St. Petersburg Dialogue” Forum Visit the Central Sunday School of Almaty

7 November 2025. Almaty. As part of their visit to the southern capital, members of the “Religion” working group of the “St. Petersburg Dialogue” forum visited the Central Sunday School at St. Nicholas Cathedral.

The delegation included: Head of the Communication Service of the Department for External Church Relations (DECR) Priest Ilya Kosykh; Head of the Youth Department of the Kamensk Diocese Priest Vyacheslav Inyushkin; staff member of the DECR Secretariat for Far-Abroad Affairs Hierodeacon Alexy (Ochkanov); Mother Superior of the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy in Moscow Nun Sevastiana (Aldzhanova); Director and Chief Physician of the St. Alexis Central Clinical Hospital A. Yu. Zarov; Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy of Religion and Religious Studies of St. Petersburg State University G. E. Bokov; and staff member of the DECR Secretariat for Inter-Christian Relations M. B. Nelyubova.

In the parish assembly hall, the pupils of the Central Sunday School presented a concert program for the guests.

Among those present at the event were: Chancellor of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen; Chairman of the Commission of the Kazakhstan Metropolis for Charity and Social Service Archpriest Vyacheslav Pugachev; Director of the Central Sunday School G. V. Cherepanova; students of the evening theological courses; and parishioners of the cathedral.

Before the concert, G. V. Cherepanova welcomed the guests and spoke about the work of the Central Sunday School, its history, and its educational programs aimed at the spiritual and moral upbringing of children and youth.

During the performance, the students presented the number “The Spoon Players,” a dance-and-poetry composition “The Seasons” to the music of Antonio Vivaldi, and a short play “The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish.”

At the conclusion of the evening, on behalf of the forum participants, A. Yu. Zarov expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and emphasized the importance of church education for the upbringing of the younger generation.