December 20, 2025. Astana. A meeting between Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan and a delegation of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, headed by Deputy Chairman Zh.K. Asanov, took place in the fireplace hall of the spiritual, cultural, and administrative center of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District named after the Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius.
Among the guests were: Chairman of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Defense, and Security A.I. Lukin; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Legislation, the Judicial System, and Law Enforcement Agencies N.K. Beknazarov; Head of the Department for International Cooperation and Protocol of the Senate N.Zh. Almashov; Head of the Senate Administration M.A. Spotkai; Head of a sector of the Department for International Cooperation and Protocol of the Senate S.M. Kuandykov; and an officer of the State Security Service of Kazakhstan A.N. Kuanyshbek.
Also present at the meeting were the Dean of the parishes of Astana, Archimandrite Sergius (Karamyshev), and the head of the Metropolitan’s personal secretariat, Hieromonk Prokhor (Endovitsky).
After exchanging greetings, Metropolitan Alexander spoke to the interlocutors about the life of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, paying particular attention to the theme of interstate and interreligious relations in the country and the dialogue of the Orthodox Church with Islam of the Hanafi madhhab. The Head of the Metropolitan District emphasized that interconfessional peace and interethnic harmony, affirmed in the Republic by the policies of the Head of State K.-Zh.K. Tokayev, today constitute a hallmark of Kazakhstan. By mutual opinion, at a difficult time marked by the spread and intensification of conflicts in various countries on national or religious grounds, Kazakhstan demonstrates an example of good neighborliness and brotherly love to regions where representatives of different peoples and faiths live side by side.
A special topic of discussion was the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in September of this year in the capital of Kazakhstan, one of whose main participants was His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. In his letter of gratitude, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church gave a high assessment of the level of organization and the outcomes of the interreligious forum:
“The 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Astana demonstrated the solidarity of representatives of the leading religious communities of the world and their aspiration to achieve better understanding among peoples. The warm reception extended to us was a manifestation of the traditionally respectful and hospitable attitude toward guests for which the people of Kazakhstan are renowned. I am convinced that the good cooperation between state authorities and religious communities will continue to contribute to the moral growth of contemporaries and the prosperity of the country.”
During the meeting, Metropolitan Alexander awarded church decorations to representatives of the Senate delegation of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. For their labors in developing state–church relations and in strengthening traditional spiritual, moral, and cultural values in society, the following were honored:
The hierarch wished the awardees good health and success in their service to the people of Kazakhstan.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties exchanged commemorative gifts.
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