Meeting Held Between the Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District and the Rector of the Almaty Theological Seminary with Guests Participating in the Sophonius Educational Readings

November 23, 2024. Almaty. At the spiritual and cultural center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov), a working meeting took place between Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, Acting Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, and participants in the Sophonius Readings who arrived from theological educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Attendees included: Archimandrite Athanasius (Sokolov), Rector of the Minsk Theological Academy; Protopriest Peter Panov, Rector of the Orenburg Orthodox Theological Seminary; Hieromonk Agafangel (Budishin), Vice-Rector for External Relations of the Minsk Theological Seminary; Protopriest Alexander Danilov, Deputy Head of the Missionary Department of the Kazan Diocese and lecturer at the Department of Religious Studies at Kazan Federal University; A.A. Efimenko, Press Secretary of the Minsk Theological Seminary.

Other participants included: Protopriest Ioann Livinsky, Vice-Rector for Educational Work of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary; Protopriest Peter Bakhtiyarov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs; A.P. Solovyov, Vice-Rector for Research, Candidate of Philosophy; Protopriest Oleg Lisin, Head of the Biblical and Theological Department, Candidate of Theology; Protopriest Alexander Gaichenya, Head of the Church History Department; Reader Vladislav Pashkov, Head of the Church Practice Department, Candidate of Theology; Protopriest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Head of the Metropolitan District; Protopriest Alexander Shishlov, Head of the Seminary Chancellery; Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of Protocol Services of the Metropolitan and lecturer at the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary.

Welcoming the guests, Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov thanked them for visiting Almaty and participating in the Sophonius Educational Readings, an annual educational event held in the southern capital. The rector praised the scientific and educational activities of the theological schools in Minsk, Orenburg, and Kazan, emphasizing the importance of these authoritative platforms for academic, interfaith, and civic dialogue.

Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov briefed the distinguished guests about the activities of the Almaty Theological Seminary, the primary training institution for clergy of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, which holds a state license to provide educational services in accordance with the legislation of the Republic.

A significant topic of the discussion was the prospects for expanding cooperation between theological schools in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.

The heads of the theological institutions asked Father Evgeny to convey their gratitude to Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan for the warm reception and noted the high level of organization of the Sophonius Educational Readings.

At the conclusion of the working meeting, the guests were warmly greeted by Oleg Nikolayevich Ovchinnikov, Secretary of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, choir director of the Metropolitan Choir, and member of the Patriarchal Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing.

Oleg Nikolayevich thanked the distinguished guests for participating in the academic forum organized by the Almaty Theological Seminary. He shared details about the life of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, noting that this year holds special significance for the faithful of the country as it marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Almaty Diocese.

At the end of the meeting, the parties exchanged warm wishes and commemorative gifts. The guests then proceeded to the monastic building of the Iveron-Seraphim Women’s Monastery, where they met with the abbess, Igumeness Lyubov.