The Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan and the Akim of Astana Discussed the Results of the Outgoing Year in the Spiritual, Cultural, and Public Life of the Capital

December 22, 2025. Astana. A meeting took place at the city akimat between the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, and the Akim of the metropolis, Zhenis Kasymbek.

Also taking part in the meeting was the Dean of the Astana Church District, Archimandrite Sergiy (Karamyshev).

The head of the capital’s executive authority shared with Metropolitan Alexander information about the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Astana and Tokyo, which took place on December 19 during the official visit to Japan of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to the Akim, the Head of State sees significant potential in cooperation between the two capitals in integrating artificial intelligence into urban governance. Zhenis Makhmudovich noted that during the visit the Japanese side presented to Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich the Smart City Tokyo concept, which envisions the use of advanced technologies to improve quality of life, management efficiency, and sustainable development.

Metropolitan Alexander informed Zhenis Kasymbek about current events in the life of the Astana Diocese and the capital deanery district, his meeting with a delegation of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan headed by Deputy Chairman Zhakip Asanov, as well as the holding in Astana of the First Pedagogical Conference of the Metropolitan District — a congress of directors and teachers of Sunday schools of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District on the theme “Education and Morality: Formation of the Personality and the Challenges of Our Time.”

The interlocutors summed up the results of the outgoing year, one of the most important events of which was the Eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in September of the current year in the capital of Kazakhstan with the participation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’. The Head of the Metropolitan District warmly thanked Zhenis Makhmudovich, the leadership, and the staff of the city akimat for their assistance in organizing and conducting the Primatial visit to the capital of the Republic, wishing them further blessed success for the good of Astana and all of Kazakhstan.

One of the significant topics of the meeting was the discussion of the continued implementation of a large-scale project — the creation in the nation’s capital of a spiritual, cultural, and educational center in honor of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Kazakhstan. The complex is being built in the capital with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and with the approval of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

During the conversation, issues of further cooperation between the Astana Diocese of the Metropolitan District and the administration of Astana were considered, particularly in the matter of preserving and strengthening traditional spiritual, moral, and cultural values in society.

At the conclusion of the meeting, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, the parties exchanged wishes for health and success in their labors in the coming New Year.