April 17, 2025 – Astana. A meeting was held at the Akorda Residence between the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, and the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, President Tokayev highly praised the Orthodox Church’s work in strengthening interethnic and interfaith unity and harmony in Kazakhstan and addressed the topic of church-state relations.
The President emphasized that the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan is carrying out extensive efforts to preserve and promote moral values within Kazakhstani society.
Metropolitan Alexander informed the Head of State about the life of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan, touching upon its spiritual, educational, and charitable activities, its work to preserve cultural and historical heritage, and efforts to strengthen peace and good neighborliness in the country.
The President and the Head of the Metropolitan District discussed current issues in church-state relations and the preparations for the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will take place on September 17–18 this year in Astana, with the participation of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.
The theme of the upcoming forum is “Dialogue of Religions: Synergy for the Sake of the Future.” The Congress will be dedicated to discussing how religious leaders can unite their efforts to address the fundamental challenges facing the international community today.
The President of Kazakhstan expressed confidence that the presence of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the forum would give strong momentum to the advancement of global interreligious and intercivilizational dialogue.
A special focus of the meeting between the President and the Head of the Metropolitan District was the discussion of the preliminary program of the Patriarch’s visit to Kazakhstan. It is expected that in addition to participating in the Congress, His Holiness will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, September 21, at the country’s main church – the Assumption Cathedral in Astana. He will also visit the site of the struggles and martyrdom of the New Martyrs of the Church of Christ and the mass burial of prisoners of the Akmola Camp for Wives of Traitors to the Motherland – “ALZHIR”; meet with Kazakhstani hierarchs and state officials; and visit the site of a new church and spiritual-educational center dedicated to All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan, currently under construction in the capital.
Metropolitan Alexander noted that the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church had expressed a desire to visit the city of Shymkent, where the infamous Lisya Balka – a site of executions and the final resting place of thousands of Orthodox Christians – is located. During the conversation, Metropolitan Alexander expressed hope that by the time of the Patriarch’s visit, a memorial chapel would be erected there, in accordance with His Holiness’s initiative. This chapel would become a monument to the martyrdom of Orthodox hierarchs, clergy, and laypeople who suffered for the faith.
The Head of State noted the relevance of Patriarch Kirill’s proposal, which has been welcomed by the country’s leadership and public. It was confirmed that a memorial mosque and a chapel in honor of the New Martyrs of Shymkent will be built at Lisya Balka, in memory of the more than 18,000 people who were unjustly repressed, according to official data. His Holiness is expected to serve the first prayer service in the chapel.
Another topic discussed at the meeting between the President and Metropolitan Alexander was the construction of a fourth church in Astana, dedicated to All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan, along with a spiritual, cultural, and educational center. The hierarch shared the results of the work already completed and the upcoming plans for construction in the summer period. He noted that serious work is currently underway to bring the project to life and that there are people who are gladly supporting this initiative.
Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich congratulated the Head of the Metropolitan District on the 15th anniversary of the canonical and legal establishment of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan. According to the President, the Church consistently carries out active educational and public service, promotes traditional spiritual and moral values, and contributes to the steady development of interethnic and interfaith dialogue.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the President and Metropolitan Alexander exchanged well-wishes for success in their respective labors.
The Metropolitan presented President Tokayev with his scholarly work, the book Christianity in Central Asia in the Middle Ages. The hierarch noted that it was during a past meeting with the Head of State that he was inspired to write the book, when Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich spoke in detail about the history of Kazakhstan’s traditional religions – Hanafi Islam and Christianity.
President Tokayev warmly congratulated Metropolitan Alexander – and through him, all Orthodox Christians of Kazakhstan – on the approaching feast of Holy Pascha.
The hierarch thanked the President for the meeting and expressed his support for the government’s course of modernization and constructive reform for the good of the people of Kazakhstan.
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