April 28, 2026. Almaty. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the opening of the IV International Academic Conference “Philosophy of Religion in the East and the West” took place in the Throne Hall of the Spiritual, Cultural and Administrative Center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov).
The forum is organized by the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary in cooperation with the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków (Poland).
The event was held with the support of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” (President – V.M. Kapsamun).
Among the participants of the conference were: Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen; Secretary of the Metropolitan District, member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Church Singing, Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov; Vice-Rector for Educational Work of the Almaty Seminary Priest Ioann Livinsky; Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Priest Petr Bakhtiyarov; Vice-Rector for Research, Candidate of Philosophy A.P. Solovyov; Secretary of the Church History Department Priest Georgy Sidorov; Head of the Biblical and Theological Department, Candidate of Theology Priest Oleg Lisin; Head of the Church History Department Archpriest Alexander Gaichenya; Head of the Church-Practical Department, Candidate of Theology Priest Vladislav Pashkov; Head of the Seminary Chancellery Priest Alexander Shishlov; Secretary of the Church-Practical Department Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); Professor Sister Teresa Obolevitch, Head of the Department of Russian and Byzantine Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków; Professor M.K. Ghidini, Professor of Russian Literature at the Faculty of Humanities, Social and Cultural Sciences of the University of Parma (Italy); PhD, Assistant at the Department of the History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków (Poland), Priest Konrad Rychlik; PhD of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Priest Robert Slesinski; Candidate of Philosophy, Associate Professor at HSE University B.K. Knorre; Candidate of Technical Sciences A.A. Gravin; PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam D. Melnikov; Lecturer at the branch of the Central Music School – Academy of Performing Arts “Baltic” L.V. Ivankovich; Doctor of Philosophy, Professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the Theological Faculty of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University for the Humanities K.M. Antonov; Doctor of Philosophy, research fellow at Freie Universität Berlin D.S. Biryukov; Candidate of Philosophy, lecturer at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University N.A. Vaganova; Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Russian State University for the Humanities A.I. Reznichenko; Candidate of Philosophy, Associate Professor at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University T.N. Rezvykh; Candidate of Theology, Candidate of Philosophy, Doctor of Theology, Associate Professor at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University N.N. Pavlyuchenkov; clergy of the churches of the Southern capital, faculty and students of the seminary, teachers and pupils of Sunday schools, historians and local researchers.
The conference also brought together leading specialists in theological and secular humanities from higher educational institutions of Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
On behalf of the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, the participants were greeted by Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen.
“I cordially welcome the organizers, participants, and guests of the academic conference ‘Philosophy of Religion in the East and the West.’ The theme of this meeting directs our attention to one of the important areas of the humanities – the reflection on religious experience, spiritual traditions, and the worldview foundations of various cultures in their historical development and in living contemporary dialogue. Of particular value is the fact that this conference brings together scholars from different disciplines, countries, and academic schools, creating a space for meaningful exchange of ideas, professional discussion, and the joint search for new approaches to the study of religion as a complex spiritual, cultural, and social phenomenon. I wish all participants fruitful work, engaging presentations, profound discussions, and new academic contacts. May this conference contribute to strengthening scholarly cooperation and to the further development of research in the field of philosophy of religion and theological knowledge,” the greeting of the Primate states in particular.
Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov congratulated those present on the opening of the conference:
“The theological school, established through the labors of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan in 2010 on the basis of a previously existing diocesan theological college, is the primary center for training personnel for the dioceses of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. I would like to note that our students are natives of this land; therefore, they are well acquainted with the specifics of the Central Asian region, the history of their country, the cultural traditions and the mentality of the peoples living in the Republic, and most importantly, this is their homeland – they love Kazakhstan and their people. The Almaty Seminary holds a state license to conduct educational activity in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Since 2010, more than 400 specialists in Orthodox theological disciplines have been trained at the seminary. Many graduates have received holy orders and now carry out their pastoral ministry in parishes in Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries, while some, after completing studies at theological academies, have joined the teaching staff of the Almaty Seminary. The efforts undertaken by the church authorities and clergy of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District to develop a center of theological education and enlightenment in Almaty are bearing fruit – our seminary continues to live and improve. We all share a noble goal – that the principal theological school of the Metropolitan District should correspond to its high calling not only in curricula and programs, but also in the quality of real knowledge and practical skills of its students,” said the rector.
The importance of live interaction within the forum was also emphasized in her address by Professor Sister Teresa Obolevitch.
The working part of the conference then opened with a report by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan titled “The First Turkestan Hierarch, Archbishop Sophronius (Sokolsky) (1872–1877), as a Researcher of the Religious Life of Christians in the Middle East,” which was read by Bishop Gennady.
Following this, Alexander I. Kyrlezhev, research fellow of the Secretariat of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church, presented the report “What Is to Be Done with Post-Secularity?”
On April 29–30, the conference will continue within three sections:
«Languages of Religions and Forms of Religious Experience in the East and the West»;
«Philosophy of Religion and Post-Secular Discourses: Experience, Critique, Interpretations»;
«Philosophy of Religion and Religious-Philosophical Thought in Russia in the 19th–20th Centuries».
On April 30, a round table will be held on the topic: «Personhood in a Religious Context: the Individual, the Personal, and Personhood in Religious Experience and Thought».
On May 1, the program will include presentations of academic publications by participants, and on the following day the results of the conference will be summarized.
The preliminary program, conference themes, and participation guidelines are available in the attached document.
Main
Login or register, to write a comment!
Your comment has been successfully added and is currently being reviewed by the site administration