Head of the Metropolitan District Took Part in the Presentation of the Exhibition “Light of the Ages: 125 Years of the Church of the Archangel Michael”

On 21 November 2025, in the city of Kaskelen of the Almaty Region, the Historical and Local Lore Museum of the Karasai District hosted the presentation of the exhibition “Light of the Ages: 125 Years of the Church of the Archangel Michael”.

Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan took part in the event.

The opening of the exhibition, organized in cooperation with the Church of the Archangel Michael, was attended by the following: Bishop Vianor of Uralsk and Atyrau; Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary and head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; Rector of the Church of the Archangel Michael Archpriest Pavel Pridatchenko; head of the Metropolitan’s personal secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Yendovitsky); President of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” V. M. Kapsamun.

Akim of Kaskelen A. O. Mukashev also participated in the presentation.

The tour for the guests was conducted by the senior research associate of the Historical and Local Lore Museum L. K. Nurzhanova. Lyazzat Kudaibergenovna noted that the aim of the exhibition is to show the connection between the history of the Church of the Archangel Michael and the history of the city. “Cossack settlers in the mid-nineteenth century laid here a military outpost that became the beginning of the future city. Among the significant buildings of that time a special place was occupied by the first Church of the Archangel Michael, built in 1865. It became not only an architectural landmark but also a spiritual centre around which city life gradually formed,” said L. K. Nurzhanova.

Metropolitan Alexander, the archpastors and clergy accompanying him became acquainted with the exhibits of the exhibition, which included household items of the Cossacks, liturgical vessels, icons, photographs and documents.

“Today, decades later, the church remains one of the symbols of Kaskelen – a quiet keeper of memory, an important part of the city’s history and a significant witness of the past,” emphasized Lyazzat Kudaibergenovna at the conclusion.

Metropolitan Alexander thanked L. K. Nurzhanova for the guided tour and wished her success in the development of cultural and scholarly work for the benefit of Kazakhstan’s multi-ethnic and multi-confessional people.