Recitation Contest “My Dreams Submit Only to the Eternal” Held in Alma-Ata on the Eve of International Children’s Day

May 29, 2026. Alma-Ata. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, the recitation contest “My Dreams Submit Only to the Eternal” took place in the Hall of Church Assemblies at St. Nicholas Cathedral as part of the children’s historical and cultural festival AzBuki. The event was dedicated to the works of Russian poets Nikolai Nekrasov, Nikolai Gumilev, Nikolai Rubtsov, and Agnia Barto.

The purpose of the event was to acquaint participants with the richness and beauty of poetry through thoughtful and expressive reading of works by outstanding classical poets.

The competition was organized by the Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Consulate General of Russia in Alma-Ata, and the Department of Culture of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

The chairman of the jury was Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Metropolitan District and member of the Union of Writers of the Russian Federation.

Members of the jury included: Natalya Gennadyevna Sorokina, Consul of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation; Larisa Yegorovna Goricheva, Head of the Department of Culture of the Metropolitan District and Honored Worker of Culture; Nikolai Sergeyevich Utkin, teacher of Russian language and literature; and Galina Vasilyevna Cherepanova, Director of the Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral. Members of the organizing committee included Lyudmila Zigmundovna Alexandrovich and Valery Nikolayevich Popov.

At the opening of the event, welcoming remarks were delivered by Natalya Gennadyevna Sorokina, Consul of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation.

The literary contest brought together pupils of Sunday schools from the city of Alma-Ata and the Alma-Ata Region – a total of 90 participants from 13 schools, ranging in age from 5 to 17 years.

Following the conclusion of the competition, Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen presided over the awards ceremony, thanking all participants for their diligence and efforts and wishing them continued creative growth and success in literary pursuits.

Diplomas and certificates were awarded to 54 participants. All contestants also received commemorative gifts.

In addition to participants in the recitation contest, diploma recipients of the Paschal Exhibition in the categories Drawing and Handicrafts were also honored. Thirteen schools from Alma-Ata and the Alma-Ata Region participated in the Paschal Exhibition.

Certificates and diplomas were likewise awarded to participants in the International Decorative and Applied Arts Festival-Competition Paschal Egg. First place in the Inspiration category was awarded to Ksenia Grishacheva, a student of the Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Alma-Ata.

Winners of the Recitation Contest

Age Category 5–6 Years

1st Place

Marina Filippova – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

2nd Place

Bogdana Kaledina – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Artemy Berzin – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

3rd Place

Ivan Bobylev – Sunday School of the Church of the Archangel Michael, Kaskelen

Zakhar Musayev – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Age Category 7–8 Years

1st Place

Anna Mamontova – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

2nd Place

Savva Nikiforov – Sunday School of the Iveron–Seraphim Monastery

Polina Vlasova – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

3rd Place

Diana Marinkina – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Alma-Ata

German Shvabauer – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Marina Yaroshenko – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Age Category 9–10 Years

1st Place

Tikhon Vnukov – Sunday School of St. Nicholas Church, Irgeli Settlement

2nd Place

Sofia Mamontova – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Vladimir Yarovoy – Sunday School of the Church of St. Prince Vladimir, Alma-Ata

3rd Place

Sofia Shchavleva – Sunday School of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia, Alma-Ata

Sofron Mikheyev – Sunday School of the Church of St. Prince Vladimir, Alma-Ata

Anna Rezhepa – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Alma-Ata

Age Category 11–12 Years

1st Place

Sofia Vnukova – Sunday School of St. Nicholas Church, Irgeli Settlement

2nd Place

Meryel Kogan – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Platon Mikheyev – Sunday School of the Church of St. Prince Vladimir

3rd Place

Yaroslav Khonin – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Alma-Ata

Valeriya Toporova – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Alma-Ata

Albina Lamshakova – Sunday School of the Church of the Archangel Michael, Kaskelen

Age Category 13–14 Years

1st Place

Aleksey Sobolev – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

2nd Place

Angelina Khairullina – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Valeriya Nakonechnaya – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

3rd Place

Anna Em – Sunday School of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia, Alma-Ata

Veronika Nakonechnaya – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Ilya Budayev – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Age Category 15 Years and Older

1st Place

Maria Petrova – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

2nd Place

Yevgeniya Kornienko – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Maria Alekseyeva – Sunday School of Christ the Savior Church, Alma-Ata

3rd Place

Varvara Vysotskaya – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Anastasia Ilchenko – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Alma-Ata

Darya Rusinova – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Hope Prize and Audience Choice Award

Apollinariya Nikiforova – Sunday School of the Iveron–Seraphim Monastery

Kir Sayfutdinov – Sunday School of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia, Alma-Ata

Anastasia Belitskaya – Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Demyan Serbenko – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Alma-Ata

Aleksandra Rettikh – Sunday School of the Church of St. Prince Vladimir, Alma-Ata

Maria Khonina – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Alma-Ata

Ilya Mislivtsev – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Alma-Ata

Vasilisa Nikiforova – Sunday School of the Iveron–Seraphim Monastery

Sofia Partolina – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Alma-Ata

Mikhail Raspopin – Sunday School of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Tuymebayev Settlement

Maria Sayfutdinova – Sunday School of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia, Alma-Ata

Ekaterina Tsoy – Sunday School of the Church of the Archangel Michael, Kaskelen

Ksenia Kolesnikova – Sunday School of Kazan Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Daniil Kravchenko – Sunday School of the Church of St. Prince Vladimir, Alma-Ata

Elina Autova – Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Alma-Ata

Artem Karanov – Sunday School of the Church of the Archangel Michael, Kaskelen

Yelizaveta Shcherbakova – Sunday School of the Church of the Archangel Michael, Kaskelen

Sofia Bykova – Sunday School of the Ascension Cathedral, Alma-Ata

Winners of the Paschal Exhibition – “Drawing” Category

1st Place Diploma

Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir

Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva-Friday

2nd Place Diploma

Sunday School of the Church of St. John the Theologian

Sunday School of the Iveron–Seraphim Women’s Monastery

3rd Place Diploma

Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral

Sunday School of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia

Certificate of Merit

Sunday School of the Church of the Archangel Michael

Sunday School of the Holy Cross Exaltation Church

Sunday School of Kazan Cathedral

Winners of the Paschal Exhibition – “Handicrafts” Category

1st Place Diploma

Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir

Sunday School of the Church of the Archangel Michael

2nd Place Diploma

Sunday School of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva-Friday

Sunday School of the Iveron–Seraphim Women’s Monastery

Sunday School of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia

3rd Place Diploma

Central Sunday School of St. Nicholas Cathedral

Sunday School of Kazan Cathedral

Sunday School of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh

Certificate of Merit

Sunday School of Christ the Savior Church

Sunday School of the Church of St. John the Theologian

Sunday School of the Protection (Pokrov) Church, Yesik