Educational Conference for Monastics of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan Held in Alma-Ata

August 26, 2026. Alma-Ata. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, an educational conference for monastics of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan was held in the Throne Hall of the Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) Spiritual and Cultural Center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

The theme of the academic forum was: “The Practical Fulfillment of Monastic Vows in the Modern World.”

The conference was chaired by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.

The forum was attended by: Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan and Bishop Benjamin of Talgar, Vicars of the Astana Diocese; Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), Dean of the Astana Church District; Archimandrite Ioann (Sazonov), Father Confessor of the Alma-Ata Diocese; Hieromonk Modest (Drozdov), Father Confessor of the Convent of the Icon of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Perishing” in Astana; Abbot Philip (Moiseev), member of the Patriarchal Commission for Physical Culture and Sports; Hieromonk Gennady (Burdyuzha), Secretary of the Kostanay Diocese; and monastics of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

Opening the conference, Metropolitan Alexander addressed those gathered with a welcoming speech, noting the relevance of the subject to which the academic forum was devoted and wishing those present successful and fruitful work.

Following the address by the Head of the Metropolitan District, the following papers were presented to the participants:

“The Unchanging Essence of Monastic Vows in Every Age” – Bishop Claudian of Taldykorgan;

“The Vow of Obedience as the Foundation of the Monastic Path” – Bishop Benjamin of Talgar;

“The Influence of Modern Technologies and Gadgets on the Inner Life of Monastics” – Abbot Tryphon (Pechkovsky), Superior of the Sts. Seraphim and Feognost Monastic Hermitage;

“The Principal Temptations of the Modern World in the Fulfillment of Monastic Vows” – Abbot Philip (Moiseev), member of the Patriarchal Commission for Physical Culture and Sports;

“Practical Ways of Fulfilling the Vows in the Life of Monastics” – Hieromonk Philotheus (Bobov), Rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Confessor of Alma-Ata in the village of Irgeli;

“Current Issues in the Internal Life of Monasteries” – Abbess Olympiada (Salopeko), Superior of the Nativity of the Mother of God Convent in Karaganda.

At the conclusion of the conference, the participants discussed the papers presented, followed by a discussion covering a wide range of issues.

At the close of the session, a final document was adopted.