The International Online Quiz “Countries and Peoples” Dedicated to the Day of Orthodox Youth Was Held

15 February 2026 – With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the Commission for Educational Ministry of the Diocese of Astana conducted the international youth online quiz “Countries and Peoples."

The event was dedicated to the International Day of Orthodox Youth, which is celebrated annually on 15 February, the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord.

Teams of school and university students from Kazakhstan, Russia and Latvia took part in the online carousel. In total, 17 teams participated in the event (4 from parish youth clubs and 13 from Sunday schools).

The questionnaire of the дистанционной olympiad included assignments in ethnogeography and the geography of religions.

The intellectual competition was held in two subgroups: Sunday schools (participants up to 17 years old) and youth clubs (participants over 17 years old).

According to the results of the quiz, the following teams were recognized as winners and prize-winners.

Subgroup “Sunday Schools”

First Place

“Guiding Star” (St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan)

“Blagovest” (Annunciation Cathedral, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan)

Second Place

“Little Radonezh” (Church of All Saints, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan)

“Grains of Faith” (Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Church, Kerch, Russia)

“Faith, Hope, Love” (Iversko-Serafimovsky Cathedral, Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan)

“Radonezh” (Church of All Saints, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan)

“My Joy” (St. Seraphim of Sarov Church, Chapayevo village, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan)

“Youth” (Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Rezekne, Latvia)

Third Place

“Bethlehem” (Kazan Church, Petrovka village, North Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan)

“New Generation” (Ascension Cathedral, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan)

“Shield of Faith” (Archangel Michael Church, Novomikhaylovka village, North Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan)

“Protection” (Church of the Martyr Eleutherius of Rome, Stepnogorsk, Akmola Region, Kazakhstan)

“Little Rays” (St. Nicholas Church, Tonshayevo settlement, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia)

Subgroup “Youth Clubs”

First Place

“Guiding Star” (St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan)

“Agape” (Archangel Michael Church, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan)

Second Place

“Vostok-Express” (St. Vladimir Church, Chemolgan station, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan)

“Scythian” (Iversko-Serafimovsky Cathedral, Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan)

The questions and answers of the competition are available on the website of the “Orthodox Internet Carousel.” The next quiz, “Spiritual Spring,” will take place on 15 March 2026.