The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan Met with the Akim of Shymkent, Gabit Abdimazhitovich Syzdykbekov

On January 13, 2025, in Shymkent, a meeting took place at the city administration between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, and the Akim of the metropolis, Gabit Abdimazhitovich Syzdykbekov.

Attending the meeting were Bishop Chrysanthus of Shymkent and Turkestan, Secretary of the Shymkent Diocese A.B. Demin, Deputy Akim of Shymkent Sarsen Abaevich Kuranbek, and Head of the City Department for Religious Affairs Bakhtiyar Altaevich Unerbayev.

The Akim of Shymkent and the Head of the Metropolitan District exchanged greetings for the New Year and the Nativity of Christ. It was noted that in his Christmas message, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasized that “Orthodoxy makes a significant contribution to strengthening the unity and solidarity of our people, promoting the values of patriotism, creativity, and responsibility, which form the basis of our national identity.”

The main topic of discussion between the metropolitan and the head of Shymkent’s executive power was the realization of a historically and spiritually significant project—the creation of a memorial chapel in Lisya Balka to commemorate the large number of innocent victims executed during the years of repression, including hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and laity.

Metropolitan Alexander informed the Akim that among the thousands of Orthodox Christians buried in Lisya Balka were prominent archpastors such as Metropolitan Kyrill (Smirnov) of Kazan, Metropolitan Joseph (Petrovykh), Archbishop Alexy (Orlov), and Bishop Eugene (Kobranov).

The metropolitan also shared details about the late 2024 meeting in Moscow between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Maulen Sagathanovich Ashimbayev. During this meeting, an official invitation from the Head of State to the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, scheduled for September 17–18, 2025, was presented to His Holiness.

The metropolitan noted that the Patriarch had accepted the invitation from Kazakhstan’s President and that preparations for the Patriarchal visit were already underway.

Metropolitan Alexander highlighted that during the meeting between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and Maulen Sagathanovich, the Patriarch brought up the issue of commemorating the victims of persecution for their faith in the infamous Lisya Balka. Among the many martyrs for Christ, His Holiness particularly emphasized the name of Holy Martyr Metropolitan Kyrill (Smirnov) of Kazan, who was exiled in Shymkent, executed, and buried in Lisya Balka.

His Holiness shared with the Speaker of the Senate that as a young man, he had learned about Metropolitan Kyrill from Protopriest Victor Golubev, who served in Shymkent in 1953.

Metropolitan Alexander informed the Akim that the noble initiative of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill had been reviewed by the President of Kazakhstan, who, after considering the matter, approved the construction of two religious memorials in Lisya Balka—a Russian Orthodox chapel and a Muslim mosque. This decision acknowledges that the site is the final resting place of innocent victims from both Islam and Orthodoxy, the two major traditional religions of Kazakhstan.

The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan shared details of the chosen and approved design for the future Orthodox memorial by the Metropolitan District’s architectural commission. He expressed hope that, with the support of benefactors and the goodwill of the city authorities, the memorial chapel would be completed in time for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s visit to Kazakhstan.

The discussion also covered various topics related to cooperation between the city administration of Shymkent and the Shymkent Diocese.

At the conclusion of the meeting, which took place in a cordial atmosphere, the city’s secular leader and the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan exchanged wishes for health and success in their service to the people of Kazakhstan.