April 28 – May 2, 2026. In Almaty, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the IV International Conference “Philosophy of Religion in the East and the West” was held.
The forum was organized by the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary in cooperation with the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow, Poland.
The event was supported by the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” (President – V. M. Kapsamun).
Participants in the conference included leading specialists in theological and secular humanities – representatives of higher educational institutions from Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
On the first day of the academic forum, the conference was opened. Following the greetings, the plenary session began with a report by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan entitled: “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 of Kaskelen. Then A. I. Kyrlezhev, a research fellow of the Secretariat of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church, presented a paper titled “What Is to Be Done with Post-Secularity?”
From April 28 to April 30, the conference continued 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”.
In total, 64 papers were presented during the forum.
On May 1, Friday, at the spiritual, cultural, and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), a meeting took place between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and the delegates of the academic forum. Afterward, the distinguished guests visited the house-museum dedicated to the confessor of the faith and ascetic of piety, Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) of Almaty and Kazakhstan. The tour was conducted by Priest Ioann Livinsky, Vice-Rector for Educational Work of the Almaty Theological Seminary. At the conclusion, participants left comments and well-wishes in the museum’s book of honored guests. Later that day, a presentation of the conference participants’ academic publications was held.
On May 2, in the throne hall of the spiritual, cultural, and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), the results of the conference were summarized. The Rector of the theological school, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, thanked the scholars for their engaging reports and discussions and expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation. Participants noted the high level of organization, the distinguished composition of speakers, and the positive and constructive atmosphere of the conference.
At the conclusion of the forum, participants discussed the concept of the next conference, scheduled for 2027 in Bishkek.
A group photograph was taken in memory of the event.
After the official closing, a tour of the sights of the Southern capital and the shrines of the Almaty Diocese was organized for the guests.
Main
Login or register, to write a comment!
Your comment has been successfully added and is currently being reviewed by the site administration