Awards were presented in Alma-Ata to laureates of the V International Church Singing Olympiad for Children and Youth

24 March 2026. Alma-Ata. An awards ceremony for the laureates of the V International Church Singing Olympiad for Children and Youth was held in the fireplace hall of the Spiritual and Cultural Center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov).

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the children’s choirs of the Ascension Cathedral and the Protection Church of the Southern capital took part in the creative competition and, according to the results, became prize-winners. The event, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the repose of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, was held from 15 November to 31 December 2025 at the initiative of the leadership of the Children’s Department of the Moscow Synodal Choir and with the support of the Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ for the development of Russian church singing.

The awards ceremony was presided over by Metropolitan Alexander.

Among those present were: Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Church Singing, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; Head of the youth educational project «Svetlitsa» Archpriest Alexander Ievlev; Head of the metropolitan’s personal secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Head of the metropolitan’s protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin; staff of the Alma-Ata diocesan administration; teachers and pupils of parish schools of the Southern capital; parents of the students.

Before the beginning of the ceremony, the Head of the Metropolitan District addressed those present with a welcoming speech:

«Christian art always speaks of the eternal, and church music in particular. The language of Orthodox singing is understood by all – the young and the elderly, intellectuals and simple people, deeply believing individuals and those still seeking the path to God. Through singing, a person offers praise and thanksgiving to the Creator in the most simple and accessible way, asks the Lord for help and intercession. Church music touches the subtle strings of the soul and helps it to be purified, enlightened, and to draw closer to the highest spiritual realms. Each of us is created for happiness, and church musical art opens the way to it, directs a person toward the fullness of being, toward self-awareness in this world, and teaches proper relationships with God and with one’s neighbor. Singing on the kliros in church is, though filled with joy, nevertheless a demanding labor. To stand for an hour, two, and sometimes longer, attentively following the course of the service, the text, the music and the regent’s cues, singing with attention to the meaning of every word – this is not always easy even for adults. Therefore, your labor and the labor of your teachers and directors deserves special attention and gratitude. I wish you all good health, a joyful spirit and creative success», the Metropolitan said in particular.

The winners of the V International Church Singing Olympiad for Children and Youth were:

Children’s group

First Prize Laureates:

Sofia Bulavkina, Daria Golovina, Andrey Boguslavets – pupils of the «Tsevnitsa» school at the Ascension Cathedral of the city of Alma-Ata;

Angelina Khairullina, Eva Karavay – pupils of the Sunday school of the Church of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian of the Southern capital.

Youth group

First Prize Laureates:

Arina Plotnikova, Sofia Bykova, Nelli Kulmakhanova, Anastasia Shepel – pupils of the «Tsevnitsa» school at the Ascension Cathedral of the city of Alma-Ata;

Margarita Artemyeva, Milana Mislivtseva, Apollinaria Mishchenko – pupils of the Sunday school at the Church of St John the Theologian of the Southern capital;

Second Prize Laureate:

Sofia Kholdenko – pupil of the Sunday school of the Church of the Apostle John the Theologian of the city of Alma-Ata.

Certificates of appreciation were awarded to Archpriest Alexander Ievlev, children’s choir regent N.O. Golovina, Sunday school teacher at the main church of the Southern capital I.V. Bykova, and head of the children’s choir at the Church of St John the Theologian O. Kartauzova.

The young prize-winners received diplomas from the Children’s Department of the Moscow Synodal Choir and commemorative gifts from the hands of the hierarch.

On behalf of the awardees, words of gratitude were addressed to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan by Archpriest Alexander Ievlev, Head of the youth educational project «Svetlitsa».

At the conclusion of the event, His Eminence wished the children health, obedience and success in their studies, after which he imparted his archpastoral blessing to those gathered.