Paschal Meeting of Metropolitan Alexander with the Administration and Students of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary

May 19, 2026. Alma-Ata. In the Throne Hall of the Administrative and Spiritual-Cultural Center named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), a Paschal meeting took place between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and the administration and students of the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary.

Present at the event were: Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk; Secretary of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, conductor of the choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District and member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing O.N. Ovchinnikov; Abbess Lyubov (Yakushkina) of the Iveron-Seraphim Women’s Monastery with the sisters of the convent; Head of the Information and Publishing Department of the Metropolitan District, rector of the Alma-Ata Theological Seminary, Candidate of Theology Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov; Head of the Diocesan Department for the Canonization of Saints Archimandrite Joseph (Eremenko); seminary spiritual father Hieromonk Dimitry (Baidek); Vice-Rector for Educational Work Priest Ioann Livinsky; Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Priest Pyotr Bakhtiyarov; Head of the Church-Practical Department of the theological school, Candidate of Theology Priest Vladislav Pashkov; inspector of the Alma-Ata Seminary Priest Evgeny Bessonov; head of the seminary chancery Priest Alexander Shishlov; secretary of the Church History Department Priest Georgy Sidorov; head of the Metropolitan’s secretariat Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky); head of the Metropolitan’s protocol service Protodeacon Roman Golovin; Protodeacon Sergiy Kulikov; Vice-Rector for Scientific Work, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences A.P. Solovyov; head of the regency department of the Alma-Ata Seminary V.V. Dudareva; Vice-Rector for Extracurricular Work, Honored Worker of Culture L.E. Goricheva; and students of the Alma-Ata Orthodox Theological Seminary.

Metropolitan Alexander and those gathered performed the Paschal glorification, after which the Head of the Metropolitan District congratulated those present on the feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ.

In his address, the rector of the Alma-Ata Seminary, Archpriest Evgeny Ivanov, congratulated the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan on his recent birthday, warmly thanked Metropolitan Alexander for his unceasing fatherly care for the theological school, and wished him strength of soul and body, abundant divine assistance, and success in his lofty and responsible archpastoral ministry.

Rustik Gappasov, a third-year full-time student of the Alma-Ata Seminary, on behalf of the students expressed sincere gratitude to His Eminence for his active care for the theological school founded by him and presented the hierarch with a bouquet of flowers.

In his response, the Head of the Metropolitan District thanked the administration, faculty, and students for their warm words of goodwill and asked those present for fervent prayers for the sending down of God’s help in his further ministry to the Church of Christ in the land of Kazakhstan.

At the conclusion of his remarks, the hierarch wished those gathered the mercy of the Lord and success in all good works and endeavors. “May the Lord Risen on the Third Day preserve all of you in good spiritual and bodily health, and may the prayers of the new martyrs and confessors of the land of Kazakhstan strengthen you all the days of your life,” the Metropolitan concluded.

In recognition of his labors for the benefit of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, the Head of the Metropolitan District awarded the Order “Yntaly Qyzmet Ushin” (“For Zealous Service”) to benefactor of the Alma-Ata Diocese Protodeacon Sergiy Kulikov.

The event concluded with a group photograph.