Head of the Metropolitan District Meets with Benefactors of the Almaty Diocese

April 20, 2025 – Almaty. Prior to the beginning of the Great Paschal Vespers, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan met with benefactors of the Almaty Diocese at the parish house of the Ascension Cathedral. Among those present were Dmitry I. Gorbashov, General Director of Premier Group LLP; Viktor I. Matveev, General Director of Transavia LLP; and Alexander B. Rusanov, Director of Groupauto Central Asia.

Also attending the meeting were: Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Chancellor of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District; Bishop Klavdian of Taldykorgan, Vicar of the Astana Diocese; Protopriest Igor Svetlichny, Keymaster of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Almaty; Hieromonk Prokhor (Yendovitsky), Head of the Metropolitan’s Personal Secretariat; Priest Georgy Sidorov, Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Metropolitan District; and Protodeacon Roman Golovin, Head of the Metropolitan’s Protocol Service.

Following established tradition, before the beginning of the festive service, the benefactors presented the Holy Fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Head of the Metropolitan District.

Metropolitan Alexander congratulated those gathered on the Feast of the Radiant Resurrection of Christ and warmly thanked the benefactors for organizing the delivery of the Holy Fire from the Holy City of Jerusalem to Kazakhstan. The hierarch noted that this sacred tradition began in 1997. “In the churches of Kazakhstan, candles are lit and lamps are kindled from the Jerusalem flame. The Holy Fire is a symbol of God’s presence in our lives, a symbol of fervent faith and hopeful trust in the enlightenment of the human race by the light of the Gospel truth,” the archpastor emphasized.

In recognition of their labors for the benefit of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, His Eminence awarded the benefactors with Metropolitan District honors: the Order of Beibitshilik pen Kelisim (“Peace and Harmony”) to D.I. Gorbashov and V.I. Matveev; and the Order of Enbek Ushin (“For Labors”) to A.B. Rusanov.

In congratulating the recipients, Metropolitan Alexander noted that God never forgets noble deeds done for the Church of Christ and for the good of one’s neighbor — such names are written in the Book of Life and become part of the history of the people.

During the meeting, issues were discussed concerning support for the charitable work of the diocese, the restoration of holy sites, and the development of pilgrimage.

At the conclusion of the event, a group photo was taken.