25 November 2025. Almaty. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Throne Hall of the spiritual, cultural and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named in honor of Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) hosted the “XXIII Almaty Orthodox Educational Readings in Memory of St. Sophonius (Sokolsky), Archbishop of Turkestan, Enlightener of Semirechye”.
This spiritual and educational event of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was held within the framework of the regional stage of the XXXIV International Christmas Educational Readings.
The scholarly forum was dedicated to a number of significant historical anniversaries – the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, the 225th anniversary of the birth of Archbishop Sophonius (Sokolsky), the 70th anniversary of the repose and the 25th anniversary of the uncovering of the holy relics of St. Nicholas of Almaty, and the 50th anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov).
The event was held with the support of the public foundation “Eleos–Meirim” (president – V. M. Kapsamun).
The organizer of the conference was the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary.
Under the chairmanship of the rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, candidate of theology Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, the participants of the Sophonius Readings included:
archimandrite Nikodim (Generalov) the librarian and lecturer of the Minsk Theological Seminary, candidate of theology, rector of the Kazan Orthodox Theological Seminary Priest Nikita Kuznetsov, vice rector for general and social affairs of the Kuzbass Orthodox Theological Seminary Archpriest Alexei Nagorny, rector of the Almaty church dedicated to the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Archpriest Evgeny Vorobyev, head of the Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the Metropolitan District and rector of the Protection of the Mother of God parish Archpriest Evgeny Bobylev, vice rector for educational work of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary Priest Ioann Livinsky, vice rector for academic work of AOT Seminary Priest Petr Bakhtiyarov, vice rector for scholarly work of the seminary, candidate of philosophical sciences A. P. Solovyov, head of the Church History Department Archpriest Alexander Gaychenya, head of the Church Practice Department of the seminary, candidate of theology Deacon Vladislav Pashkov, head of the seminary chancellery Priest Alexander Shishlov, secretary of the Church Practice Department Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky), secretary of the Church History Department Priest Georgy Sidorov, head of the metropolitan’s protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin, clergy of Almaty parishes, members of the seminary teaching staff and students, teachers and students of the theological–missionary faculty, teachers and pupils of parish Sunday schools of Almaty, historians, and local researchers.
On behalf of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Bishop Benjamin of Talgar addressed the assembly with greetings.
Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov congratulated those gathered on the opening of the conference, emphasizing the historical and spiritual significance of the event. The seminary rector delivered the report of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan titled “Newly Discovered Documents on the Life and Labors of St. Sophonius (Sokolsky)”.
The rector then presented his own report on the topic: “The Position of Orthodox Clergy and Laity in the Kazakh SSR in 1943–1958”.
Rector of the Kazan Orthodox Theological Seminary Priest Nikita Kuznetsov, vice rector for general and social affairs of the Kuzbass Orthodox Theological Seminary Archpriest Alexei Nagorny, and archimandrite Nikodim (Generalov), librarian of the Minsk Theological Seminary, addressed the participants with greeting remarks.
After the plenary session, a round table titled “The Practical Implementation of the Principles of Modern Orthodox Higher Education by Theological Schools: On the Occasion of the 15th Anniversary of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary” was held in the Throne Hall of the spiritual, cultural and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov). Representatives of the administrations of the Almaty, Kazan and Kuzbass theological seminaries took part. During the meeting, the participants exchanged views on aspects of educational and scholarly work in their respective theological schools.
Following this, in the same building, a presentation of the publications of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary took place. The vice rector for scholarly work of AOT Seminary, candidate of philosophical sciences A. P. Solovyov, spoke about the merits and scholarly distinctiveness of the presented works. The following publications were presented:
Metropolitan Alexander’s monograph “Christianity in Central Asia in the Medieval Era”;
the collected works of historian V. A. Kazantsev “The Formation of the Turkestan Diocese (The History of Orthodoxy in Semirechye)”;
the monograph of Priest Mikhail Berezin “The Orthodox Church in Northern Kazakhstan (1920–30): A Historical and Documentary Collection”;
issues 4 and 5 of the “Theological Bulletin of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary”.
After the break, the conference continued its work in two thematic sections: “Theological and Church–Applied Research” and “History of Christianity”.
Section “Theological and Church–Applied Research” (moderator – Deacon Vladislav Pashkov):
“Nowruz and the Christian Feasts of the Great Steppe” – research fellow, lecturer of the Almaty seminary Archpriest Alexander Suvorov;
“Some Remarks on the Nature of Church Law” – lecturer of the Church Practice Department of AOT Seminary Igumen Vladimir (Utegenov);
“Tradition and Innovation in Russian Theoretical Sectology” – lecturer of the Church Practice Department of the Almaty Orthodox Seminary Priest Kirill Gromov;
“The Causes of the ‘Young Elders’ Phenomenon According to Contemporary Church Authors” – head of the Church Practice Department, candidate of theology Deacon Vladislav Pashkov;
“Liturgical Echoes of the Early Christian Agape in Modern Orthodox Worship” – lecturer of the Church Practice Department Deacon Ioann Churkin;
“Symbol in Liturgical Theology: Between Allegory and Ontology. A Semiotic Delimitation Based on the Eucharistic Debate” – assistant librarian of the Minsk Theological Seminary Reader Nazary Florya.
Section “History of Christianity” (moderator – Archpriest Alexander Gaychenya):
“The Significance of the Ecclesial and Public Ministry of Metropolitan Filaret (Vakhromeev) in Preserving Peace and Canonical Unity in Belarus at the Turn of the 20th and 21st Centuries” – archimandrite Nikodim (Generalov), lecturer and librarian of the Minsk Theological Seminary, candidate of theology;
“Priest Ioann Shtygashev: Missionary and Enlightener” – vice rector for general and social affairs of the Kuzbass Theological Seminary Archpriest Alexei Nagorny;
“The Work of Orthodox Clergy in Turkestan During and After the Verny Earthquakes of the Early 20th Century” – vice rector for educational work of AOT Seminary Priest Ioann Livinsky;
“The Homiletic Legacy of Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov): On the 50th Anniversary of His Blessed Repose” – head of the Church History Department Archpriest Alexander Gaychenya;
“The Confiscation of Church Valuables in the Petropavlovsk Vicariate of the Omsk Diocese” – research fellow of AOT Seminary Priest Mikhail Berezin;
“Orthodox Missionary Camps in the Turgai Region in the Early 20th Century” – secretary of the Church Practice Department of the Almaty Seminary Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky);
“The First Turkestan Hierarchs — Archbishop Sophonius (Sokolsky) and Bishop Alexander (Kulchitsky): Results of Their Labors and Characteristics of Diocesan Administration” – clergy of the Sophia Cathedral of the Iveron–Seraphim Convent of Almaty;
“The ‘Decree on the Separation of Church and State’ and Its Implementation in the Territory of Kazakhstan During the Civil War” – secretary of the Church History Department Priest Georgy Sidorov.
At the conclusion of the presentations, the speakers received certificates of the XXIII Almaty Orthodox Educational Readings in Memory of St. Sophonius (Sokolsky).
At the close of the event, the participants discussed the presented papers and summarized the results of the conference.
More than 100 people took part in the scientific forum.
Media coverage of the conference was provided by the “Semirechye” television studio (director – honored cultural worker V. L. Posadneva, cameraman A. Shmidt); photo documentation was carried out by A. Sheglov and A. Khalin of the Information Department.
Main
Login or register, to write a comment!
Your comment has been successfully added and is currently being reviewed by the site administration